Raising the bridges carries huge economic and political costs. If protests triggered a repeat of Lightfoot’s over-reach, it could be considered a win for the protesters. It is unlikely to happen under the current mayor.

Good question.

Marches are often cleared with the local government first. Marching in a circuit downtown is a common route, where the police already have plans drawn up to protect the protest from vigilante attacks, and prevent vandalism by protesters. If the march organizers are trying to not antagonize the local police, they’ll probably pick a familiar and easily approved route.

Creating conflict with the police is likely to get more press attention to a demonstration with less people, but if the organizers are trying to maximize the demonstration’s attendance, telegraphing the intention to keep conflict to a minimum is likely to encourage participation from a larger swath of the population.

*edit* The more I read about this demonstration, the less it seems it was organized along the same lines as the “Hands Off” demonstrations that follows the volume over spectacle strategy. Maybe a better answer is that it is easier to assemble lots of people in Daley Plaza, Broadview is a long walk, and CPD are unlikely to have permitted a large group from doing something that direct.

Part One: Dr. Phil Is Even Worse Than You Think And You Probably Think He Sucks

For some reason performative neutrality is the line that ‘journalists’ are not allowed to cross, even against fascism. Morans’ statements are weak-sauce compared to the Michelin star grill marks the typewriter hammers of Hunter S. Thompson indelibly branded on Nixon’s legacy.

There is no ‘left’ and ‘right’ mainstream media, just a slippery slope of appeasement to tyranny from NPR down to OAN, and then there is the sidelined and suppressed resistance trying to break through. It has always been this way, and is the reason things have deteriorated to our current state.

Nice to meet you, scimitar wielding cartoon villain enforcer from Disney’s Aladdin!

All of them were innocent of capital crimes, but received a death sentence because they were black. Please stop chopping off people’s hands for shoplifting an apple.

You’re very welcome! Kris@feddit.org / @poVoq@slrpnk.net is an incredible admin, and up until now has declined donations, funding the entire instance several years now from his own pocket.

This current downtime is the exception that proves the rule. I hope he’s not stressing out too much. We’ll all be ready to jump right back into it when he gets back.