Jian Ping's column
Democracy, the American way
Democracy, the American way
Jian Ping is author of “Mulberry Child: A Memoir of
China. “ For more information, visit www.moraquest.
com or www.mulberrychild.com. Jian Ping’s blog,
which she keeps with a couple of other authors, is at
www.smearedtype.com.
China. “ For more information, visit www.moraquest.
com or www.mulberrychild.com. Jian Ping’s blog,
which she keeps with a couple of other authors, is at
www.smearedtype.com.
| We Build, Manage, Operate, and Improve Quality Care Systems for Persons with Chronic Health Conditions. For current employment opportunities, please visit: www.tmg-wis.com |
Jian Ping
By Jian Ping
I experienced American democracy first hand during the recent NATO Summit in Chicago.
There was a lot of media coverage of the Summit before the event took place, from state
dignitaries who would attend the meeting, issues to be addressed, benefits for the city (putting
Chicago on the international stage), to warnings of danger from potential attacks or violent
demonstrations and street blockage. The Summit was held at the McCormick Place, a
convention center, in the south side of Chicago on Sunday, May 20th and Monday, May 21st.
Lake Shore Drive, the major south to north meridian for the city, and Columbus Drive, another
important major pathway, were shut down from Balbo St. all the way to 39 St. I happened to live
right in the middle of this large blocked area and was quite nervous about my ability of getting
around during this period.
The anticipated demonstrations started in the middle of the week. The demonstrators, many
I experienced American democracy first hand during the recent NATO Summit in Chicago.
There was a lot of media coverage of the Summit before the event took place, from state
dignitaries who would attend the meeting, issues to be addressed, benefits for the city (putting
Chicago on the international stage), to warnings of danger from potential attacks or violent
demonstrations and street blockage. The Summit was held at the McCormick Place, a
convention center, in the south side of Chicago on Sunday, May 20th and Monday, May 21st.
Lake Shore Drive, the major south to north meridian for the city, and Columbus Drive, another
important major pathway, were shut down from Balbo St. all the way to 39 St. I happened to live
right in the middle of this large blocked area and was quite nervous about my ability of getting
around during this period.
The anticipated demonstrations started in the middle of the week. The demonstrators, many
I felt lucky that I was away on a business trip later that week, just as
more police and demonstrators appeared in the streets. By the time
I came back that Friday, right before a major demonstration the
following day, I was worried about how I could get home. I remember
one time when President Bush was in town and former Mayor Daley
had dinner with him at the Firehouse, a nice steak restaurant near
where I lived, police blocked all the streets leading to the restaurant
and wouldn't allow me to walk across the street to go home because
I didn't have a picture ID.
Afraid of motorcades on the highway, I took the subway into the city,
changing from Blue Line to Red. At one point, I nearly got off at a
station close to my loft office, thinking of spending the night there
instead of risking road blockage going home. But the tranquility on
the train eased my concerns and I decided to venture into the center
of action. When I emerged from the Roosevelt Station, however, I
was surprised to see normal traffic (less cars, but no road barriers).
It was right after 10 p.m., and I got home without any problem.
Early next morning, the curiosity of a writer got over me. Against my
husband Francis' objection (coming all the way from China via
Skype), I rode my bike to the lakefront trail, armed with a camera. I
knew Museum Campus, where the Shed Aquarium, the Field
Museum, and the Planetarium were located, would be closed, but I
didn't expect to see the tall metal fences and concrete blocks all over
the place. Roosevelt Avenue looked like a war zone! As I moved
toward the lake, I was more shocked to see how these tall metal
fences were set up, with a gate blocking the underpass and the
fences reaching all the way to the water edge.
The sidewalk going north was still open. I hesitated for a moment
before taking off on my bike.
It was a beautiful morning, but the usually packed lakefront trail had
few people. At one point, I had to carry my bike to a lower level to
pass the snowplows that were used as road barriers, all the way
from the street to the end of walkway, including the trail and the lawn.
They were lined up so closely that a pedestrian could hardly
squeeze by. Their large size and ominous look reminded me of the
tanks on Tiananmen Square in 1989. An American friend got mad at
me for linking the two together when I posted the photo with a
comment on Facebook: "Do snowplows fire cannons and run over
people?" he fired at me. But I couldn't help from making the analogy.
I continued north and was glad to see more people on the trail. In
fact, the further north I pedalled, the more I saw of normal life, with
young people playing soccer, families relaxing by the beach, and
pedestrians/joggers/bikers crowding the trail. I breathed a sign of
relief and rode much further north than I intended.
The following morning, the day the Summit was to start, I jogged
along the same trail all the way to Chicago River. Besides the ugly
roadblocks and the presence of more police, everything appeared
peaceful. I ventured out of the lakefront trail and came up to the street
at Michigan Ave. and Wacker Drive. There were more people walking
in black coats in the street than regular pedestrians, and at every
cross section, there were a couple or more of policemen/women,
more police and demonstrators appeared in the streets. By the time
I came back that Friday, right before a major demonstration the
following day, I was worried about how I could get home. I remember
one time when President Bush was in town and former Mayor Daley
had dinner with him at the Firehouse, a nice steak restaurant near
where I lived, police blocked all the streets leading to the restaurant
and wouldn't allow me to walk across the street to go home because
I didn't have a picture ID.
Afraid of motorcades on the highway, I took the subway into the city,
changing from Blue Line to Red. At one point, I nearly got off at a
station close to my loft office, thinking of spending the night there
instead of risking road blockage going home. But the tranquility on
the train eased my concerns and I decided to venture into the center
of action. When I emerged from the Roosevelt Station, however, I
was surprised to see normal traffic (less cars, but no road barriers).
It was right after 10 p.m., and I got home without any problem.
Early next morning, the curiosity of a writer got over me. Against my
husband Francis' objection (coming all the way from China via
Skype), I rode my bike to the lakefront trail, armed with a camera. I
knew Museum Campus, where the Shed Aquarium, the Field
Museum, and the Planetarium were located, would be closed, but I
didn't expect to see the tall metal fences and concrete blocks all over
the place. Roosevelt Avenue looked like a war zone! As I moved
toward the lake, I was more shocked to see how these tall metal
fences were set up, with a gate blocking the underpass and the
fences reaching all the way to the water edge.
The sidewalk going north was still open. I hesitated for a moment
before taking off on my bike.
It was a beautiful morning, but the usually packed lakefront trail had
few people. At one point, I had to carry my bike to a lower level to
pass the snowplows that were used as road barriers, all the way
from the street to the end of walkway, including the trail and the lawn.
They were lined up so closely that a pedestrian could hardly
squeeze by. Their large size and ominous look reminded me of the
tanks on Tiananmen Square in 1989. An American friend got mad at
me for linking the two together when I posted the photo with a
comment on Facebook: "Do snowplows fire cannons and run over
people?" he fired at me. But I couldn't help from making the analogy.
I continued north and was glad to see more people on the trail. In
fact, the further north I pedalled, the more I saw of normal life, with
young people playing soccer, families relaxing by the beach, and
pedestrians/joggers/bikers crowding the trail. I breathed a sign of
relief and rode much further north than I intended.
The following morning, the day the Summit was to start, I jogged
along the same trail all the way to Chicago River. Besides the ugly
roadblocks and the presence of more police, everything appeared
peaceful. I ventured out of the lakefront trail and came up to the street
at Michigan Ave. and Wacker Drive. There were more people walking
in black coats in the street than regular pedestrians, and at every
cross section, there were a couple or more of policemen/women,
I recalled that earlier in the day, I saw two tourists,
with a map in their hands, approached a group of
police at a street corner. A policeman raised his
hand with a gesture of "stop." The two women froze
in their tracks, only to see the armed policeman
break into a smile and beckon them to come
forward. They laughed and proceeded to ask for
directions. I was touched by the humor and warmth
demonstrated by both sides at this particular
intense time.
That Monday evening, as the news continued on the
television, I suddenly heard the fainted humming of
traffic from Columbus and Lake Shore Drive. I
looked out from the window and saw cars moving in
both directions. I sat still for a moment and let the
sound of traffic wash over me.
| (Above, last 3 photos) Road blockage at Roosevelt Avenue; police in front of the Chicago Cultural Center; and one restaurant boarded up on south Michigan. |
from out of town, staged their activities at City Hall and other major buildings such as Aon and Boeing's headquarters. If
Chicagoans were not concerned by all the warnings repeatedly given by the media, they would be, especially those who lived
close to the Summit meeting place or the demonstration routes, by the bombardment of notices arriving daily via email from
office and condo building managements. I was one of them.
Chicagoans were not concerned by all the warnings repeatedly given by the media, they would be, especially those who lived
close to the Summit meeting place or the demonstration routes, by the bombardment of notices arriving daily via email from
office and condo building managements. I was one of them.
mostly chatting among themselves. When I passed the Art Institute of Chicago where Obama was to host a dinner that
evening, I saw more people, some wearing T-shirts with "Peace" printed in the front or back.
"We are from Rockford," I heard a young couple waving to two people passing by.
"We are from Philadelphia!"
"All right!"
They cheered for one another and moved on. They must be protesters—thousands of them were expected during the Summit.
I watched the rest of the day's events on television and was relieved that, for the most part, the demonstrations were peaceful.
Monday morning, I had a meeting with Ellis, my executive producer, in his office in the Prudential Building, which is located
next to Aon. By the time I got there, he and his assistant, Lana, were already there. Neither of them encountered any problem
coming in, though the office building was quite empty—many people chose to take the day off or work at home.
When I stepped out of the building in the afternoon, I saw a group of demonstrators stage another protest in front of Aon. I took
a photo of the scene. From where I stood, I saw more policemen than demonstrators. As I walked on Michigan Avenue toward
home, I encountered several motorcades going in different directions, with police cars leading the way, flashes on and siren
piercing through the air. Traffic was put on hold to let them pass. In front of the Art Institute, I was impressed to see all the
streets were clean—no trace of the previous evening's demonstration.
Late in the afternoon, I saw large flatbed semis lining up on Columbus Ave. to take away the concrete and metal barriers.
When I watched the 10 p.m. news, I saw Mayor Rahm Emanuel proudly praise the Chicago police force, saying their conduct
during the NATO Summit was a lesson of what should be done in such situation. One of their strategies was to let the
demonstrators walk the streets until they were exhausted, and the heat over the two days probably expedited that process. Of
course, the police set their limits—no demonstrations were allowed along the magnificent mile. And there were incidents of
confrontations in which police used batons and arrested nearly a hundred people. But except a handful, with three charged for
making explosive devices, the rest of the arrested demonstrators were released the same day or soon after. One arrested
man stated in a television interview that every policeman treated him with respect during his arrest.
evening, I saw more people, some wearing T-shirts with "Peace" printed in the front or back.
"We are from Rockford," I heard a young couple waving to two people passing by.
"We are from Philadelphia!"
"All right!"
They cheered for one another and moved on. They must be protesters—thousands of them were expected during the Summit.
I watched the rest of the day's events on television and was relieved that, for the most part, the demonstrations were peaceful.
Monday morning, I had a meeting with Ellis, my executive producer, in his office in the Prudential Building, which is located
next to Aon. By the time I got there, he and his assistant, Lana, were already there. Neither of them encountered any problem
coming in, though the office building was quite empty—many people chose to take the day off or work at home.
When I stepped out of the building in the afternoon, I saw a group of demonstrators stage another protest in front of Aon. I took
a photo of the scene. From where I stood, I saw more policemen than demonstrators. As I walked on Michigan Avenue toward
home, I encountered several motorcades going in different directions, with police cars leading the way, flashes on and siren
piercing through the air. Traffic was put on hold to let them pass. In front of the Art Institute, I was impressed to see all the
streets were clean—no trace of the previous evening's demonstration.
Late in the afternoon, I saw large flatbed semis lining up on Columbus Ave. to take away the concrete and metal barriers.
When I watched the 10 p.m. news, I saw Mayor Rahm Emanuel proudly praise the Chicago police force, saying their conduct
during the NATO Summit was a lesson of what should be done in such situation. One of their strategies was to let the
demonstrators walk the streets until they were exhausted, and the heat over the two days probably expedited that process. Of
course, the police set their limits—no demonstrations were allowed along the magnificent mile. And there were incidents of
confrontations in which police used batons and arrested nearly a hundred people. But except a handful, with three charged for
making explosive devices, the rest of the arrested demonstrators were released the same day or soon after. One arrested
man stated in a television interview that every policeman treated him with respect during his arrest.