All over the United State people have gathered to celebrate and rally for the May Day protests. The entire streets of mega cities like Chicago, New York, and Oakland were filled fellow civilians protesting against the current economic system and the governmental establishment. Some businesses closed their doors to avoid the proximity to the rallies and others advised their employees to plan around their lunch breaks and not step out during the marches.
Nonviolent Gathering for May Day Chicago
What should have been peaceful and planned rallies, in some areas turned into riots and violence. While Chicago downtown was greatly unaffected, other places like Oakland did not take the police intervention lightly and resorted to full out violence against the protection agencies. It’s quite peculiar though how Chicago tends to exhibit the mildest reactions when it comes to social upheavals. For whatever reason, a typical social gathering in Chicago seems more controlled, reserved, and civil, even amidst the economic crisis that we are facing today.
This seems to coincide with the overall atmosphere of the city. Chicago tends to forego the politics and protests in exchange for partying, working, and every day activities. It appears that people here are too busy and preoccupied with others matters to have the time to protest. This explains why the restaurant, entertainment, and limousine industries are booming in the Windy City. There are enough distractions here to divert people’s attention from the rest of the world. And while it’s difficult to say whether that’s good or bad, Chicago certainly knows how to have fun and live their lives, which to many is of most importance.
Thus even when Chicago does decide to protest, there will most likely not be any violence or media coverage because the people here understand that life isn’t just about politics and that freedom doesn’t stem from government intervention alone. There’s nothing that a good Chicago Cubs game or a ride in a limo or a party bus around Chicago cannot fix while sightseeing around the magnanimous sky rise.