Dear Friends,
The Chicago March on the DNC yesterday was powerful.
We marched in the streets to protest the United States’ funding of Israel’s devastation of Gaza. Together we embodied our resistance to the impoverishing, unimaginative binary of Democrat versus Republican, conservative versus liberal, Trump versus Harris — an adversarial democracy. We united around our shared commitment to universal human dignity, security, and peace for all people, especially for our beloved but besieged and bombed Palestinian neighbors.
Many things will linger in my memory from today. Here are just a few:
The protest was huge.
Many thousands of people came out and marched together for the dignity and security of our Palestinian neighbors. I met people from Wisconsin, California, and across the US and the world.
The protest was peaceful.
I observed many people expressing kindness and care to one another. People who accidentally bumped into one another or stepped on each other’s toes apologized and made sure everyone was safe. The police were also respectful. Of course, the news headlines have glommed onto to the few protesters who broke through the police fence. But the march was overwhelmingly peaceful.
Witnessing this gave me fresh confidence in ordinary folks’ decency and the power of peaceful protest.
The protest was diverse.
I saw people from seemingly every background. Black, brown, and white people. Peope in wheelchairs, parents pushing children in strollers, gay and straight people, old and young people. People from many different faith traditions. People speaking English, Spanish, Arabic, Hebrew, Filipino, and other languages. People holding signs representing South and Central America, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. How beautiful to see so much of the infinite image of God reflected in one place.
The protest was largely led by women.
Again and again, it was women on the stage, women holding the bullhorns, and women leading chants against Israel’s violence. I followed a Palestinian woman leading fierce chants against genocide, but she kept apologizing to her neighbors for the loudness of her bullhorn. I loved witnessing this intersection of bold protest and humble awareness. How beautiful to be led by these kind, courageous women.
The protest didn’t have a hint of antisemitism.
I didn’t see a single sign or hear a single word that degraded Jewish people. Many Jews marched, and rabbis held signs condemning Zionism. This protest demonstrated that anti-Zionism is actually pro-Israel because it’s pro-dignity for all people.
The protest was opened by a powerful speech from Dr. Cornel West.
He spoke about the importance of moral character and a prophetic commitment to universal human dignity, security, and tenderness. “This is not about some Machiavellian politics or some utilitarian calculation about an election,” he said. “This is about morality. This is about spirituality.”
After he spoke, I was moved watching how Brother West interacted with total strangers. He gently hugged people, patiently listened to them, and generously responded to numerous questions. He wasn’t in a hurry, didn’t project a self-important ego, and clearly prioritized engaging with young people.
As we walked the street together, I asked him, “Dr West, in a time of othering, what does it mean to love our neighbors as our selves?” His response was beautiful:
“Oh brother, it’s the same old thing from way back. You have a steadfast commitment to the welfare of others. And you find joy in empowering others. Joy in cheering people up. Joy in enabling others. And that joy is different than the kind of pleasure in our culture. God bless you.”
That captured what I experienced today at the Chicago March on the DNC.
May all of us, together, press deeper into a steadfast commitment to the welfare of others. May we find joy in empowering others, cheering others up, and enabling others.
This is the way of joy and justice.
Love your neighbor as yourself self.
