Protesters Plan to Shut Down Chicago's O'Hare Airport on Labor Day

[oberliner]

Protesters plan to shut down Chicago’s O’Hare airport on Labor Day in hopes of causing major disruptions at the nation's second largest airport to highlight violence and lack of education and employment opportunities on the city’s South and West sides. Planned by a Coalition for a New Chicago, the group will try to shutdown portions of the highway that leads in and out of the airport. “We must end Chicago's tale of two cities,” said Rev. Gregory Livingston, a West Side pastor who is leading the coalition. “We will shut down O'Hare International Airport.” If the protest is successful, it would be a major disruption for travel at the end of the holiday weekend.

Livingston's demands include the resignation of Mayor Rahm Emanuel, and converting closed schools into businesses, as well as more investment into the South and West sides. Authorities will not allow the protesters to block traffic said Illinois State Police spokesman Maj. David Byrd. “We are prepared for all contingencies,” he added. Chicago had 1,400 murders and 6,200 shootings in 2016 and 2017. The murder count from January through August of this year was 368, a 20 percent drop from last year, police said.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/protesters-plan-to-shut-down-chicagos-ohare-airport-on-labor-day

[Freethinker65]

1. Glad I flew back yesterday.

Last edited Mon Sep 3, 2018, 09:59 AM - Edit history (1)

Kind of makes the hour delay waiting for misplaced luggage at Midway not so bad.

Honestly, I think shutting down access to the airport, disrupting the travel plans of those departing and arriving to the airport, when if planned correctly there would be no alternate access route, would do more harm than good for Rev. Livingston's cause.

*****updated. Let me add, I fully supported the earlier protests shutting down Lake Shore Drive and the Dan Ryan which were organized to bring attention to similar issues. These were well organized and publicized and got good media attention and got people talking about the issues. I have also participated in, and been inconvenienced by, other protests in Chicago and I have never been upset at the protester (even those for issues I disagree with- anti-abortion, etc.). I am not questioning the validity of the issue nor the right to protest, only the end result of choosing shutting down O'Hare on a busy day for family travel planned long in advance with no alternatives.

[oberliner]

2. It does get attention

Which is hard to do in this climate where no one really wants to talk about these issues.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

3. The plan is not to "shut down the airport." They want to shut down part of the Kennedy Expressway

leading to the airport.

[oberliner]

4. The leader of the protest literally says: "We will shut down O'Hare International Airport"

He is quoted in the piece.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

7. *Drinks coffee*

Well would you look at that.

[oberliner]

10. I'm not sure I understand what you are trying to communicate

Do you think the headline is wrong? That it gives a false impression?

[WhiskeyGrinder]

12. It's early morning. I drank my coffee and reread the entire piece, as well as the USA Today piece it

was based on. Learned more. Marveled self-deprecatingly that I jumped the gun on my first response.

[oberliner]

13. Gotcha

Thanks for clarifying!

[jimlup]

5. I will anticipate that this will fail ...

security will be increased and it will not actually shut down travel. I too think this will likely do more harm than good.

[oberliner]

6. It's already done more good

Got people talking about issues that no one ever talks about.

[SharonClark]

9. More likely talking about what a poor idea it is.

The "issues" get left in the dust.

[oberliner]

44. What would have been more effective? Edit to add: I see I already asked you this question upthread

Your answer is definitely thought-provoking.

My central point, though, is that nothing is likely to change if no one is inconvenienced.

[jimlup]

35. We can hope

I certainly hope so!

I for one am strong in favor of CD to bring light on critical moral issues but it is always a difficult call ...

[SharonClark]

8. How to make friends and influence people - NOT

[oberliner]

11. What would be a more effective way to draw attention to these problems?

[still_one]

30. You protest, but you don't do things that can potentially hurt other people, who need

to make emergency travel

Protesting, handing out leaflets, letting travelers and others who pass through the airport gets attention, and does not potentially hurt someone where time critical events are required.

For example I wonder how many here would be so quick to say it is fine if they were blocked from seeing a sick or dying relative because of this.

There are enough time critical events where if a delay occurs, people can get hurt.

There are two reasons why I do not think the way they are doing this will get the kind of sympathy they need.

1. Probably a good number of the people that will be affected by this protest may not even be from Chicago, and there would be very little they could do because in the end the only way the changes proposed by this protest are going to be effective is if people vote.

2. There are security issues that are involved that are mandated by federal law, and if the flow of people is being disrupted there are safety issues involved. In fact for this reason alone the protest may not even get started which would defeat the whole purpose of the organizers, and why I say protesting gets the attention, but "closing down the airport" I suspect will not provide the sympathy they desire.

A protest should motivate people to take action to elicit change, and in this cause the protest should motivate people to vote. I remain skeptical that this attempt to "close down the airport" will motivate people come out and vote for change.

[pangaia]

21. Sort of like 'taking a knee" on an NFL field... bad idea, eh..

[Captain Stern]

29. But, it's not really like that.

This would be more like protesters running out on to the field, and causing the game to be cancelled.

The players that are taking a knee have a lot of support. Protesters that caused the games to be cancelled wouldn't have a lot of support.

[tavernier]

14. Yes, let's piss off a lot of people.

Travelers visiting family over holiday, tired moms and dads with young children, soldiers with short military leaves, family and friends flying in for illness or death of loved one, long anticipated wedding or honeymoon trip... or just the going to work. Yes, a delay or a canceled flight will certainly bring attention to your cause, but I doubt it will bring the result that you desire.

[oberliner]

15. That's sort of the idea behind strikes and protests

If they don't inconvenience anyone, then no one pays attention or takes any action.

[pangaia]

22. I'm surprised at the opposing views expressed here, but.....

[MichMan]

24. Perhaps it is because the action would not appear to be effective towards the goals they have stated

"Livingston's demands include the resignation of Mayor Rahm Emanuel, and converting closed schools into businesses, as well as more investment into the South and West sides."


Maybe I'm 100% wrong and shutting down the airport on a holiday would be a path to achieve those goals.

[pangaia]

26. You may very well be right.. but...maybe if you are right, that is one of the problems...

[brooklynite]

37. What action should a family returning home to Los Angeles take with the Mayor of Chicago?

[Pope George Ringo II]

39. Especially if they were visiting family in Milwaukee and have no connection to Chicago whatsoever

Beyond changing planes there?

Really, all this is going to do is teach them to try flying Delta and connecting through DTW or MSP instead of United through ORD. They're completely irrelevant to anything the protest claims to be about and don't care about anything except that some assholes screwed up their holiday weekend.

[oberliner]

43. Fight for the same causes in Los Angeles

These issues are not limited to Chicago.

[brooklynite]

46. Does Los Anegels have a violence problem?

nb - this was NOT a "Police violence" protest

[WhiskeyGrinder]

16. Anyone who says these protests do more harm than good are actually saying that inconvenience and

discomfort of the privileged is more important than addressing systemic oppression and inequality.

[rainin]

18. Only privileged people fly? How do you define "privilege"?

Missing flights isn't just "inconvenience". Sometimes, it means expense for hardworking fellow Americans. I know a few active duty service men who are flying back to post after the holiday weekend, are they the privileged you are referring to?

[Lee-Lee]

48. That's a false dichotomy

You are framing it as if the only possible choices are to not address issue at all, or to do it only in this way.

That’s a dishonest argument intended to shut up anyone with an opposing view by claiming they must care more about the comfort of some privledged people more than addressing the issues. And presenting it as if those are the only two options.

The reality is, of course, much more complicated and has a wealth of other options

There are many ways to protest, and not all are effective. If you end up turning more people off to your message than you do gaining allies then your protests are not effective and, in fact, do more harm than good.

And, of course, we have your assumptions that everyone flying is “privileged” that is far, far from reality also. And your assumption that everyone affected by a shutdown are only the people flying, and not a whole host of other people as well. I imagine had they succeeded in shutting it down a lot of people working there like skycaps, wait staff, taxi drivers, etc who either work for tips or who get paid based on business volume would also be affected. I’m sure a Holdiay weekend like Labor Day is big for them as far as income, they choose to work over the holiday hoping for a good payday and it gets ruined by things like this.

[rainin]

17. How about service men and women trying to get back to their posts or bases?

How about funerals or weddings that get missed? These are everyday people trying to navigate the same struggles as you and me and we know life is already hard. This is abhorrent and I can't believe they think this is a good idea.

[The Liberal Lion]

19. I support this action

They aren't doing it for the reasons I like. But I think it can be a role model for what really needs to be done to take back our country. I'm 100% serious. In order to drive trump from office and bring these treasonous republicans to their knees we have to be willing to shut down if not collapse the economy. Talk isn't going to do it, and elections certainly won't. If you want to legally and without violence bring on the revolution we the people MUST use the one true power we have: the economy. I think right now no one is listening, after the midterms when people finally realize that even when the Democrats win back the House the evil and corruption of the US federal and many state governments will continue, they will finally understand just how deep of shit we are in. Then, hopefully, people will understand that bringing down the government HAS to be the goal and that goal can be reached both legally and without violence.

[MichMan]

23. You must have been giddy in 2008

Millions lost their jobs, homes and had a lifetime of retirement savings wiped out and still haven't recovered. Are you hoping for more of the same?

[The Liberal Lion]

25. This is in no way the same

Hey, there is no reason to be surly with me. Soon enough you'll understand why I believe shutting down the economy is necessary. But I'll put it to you succinctly, just in case you can't comprehend just what is going on: we are at war. War is hell, and sacrifice will have to be made.

[MichMan]

27. I do get surly when I am a handful of years from retiring.....

….and someone thinks that a total collapse of the economy is a grand idea. I would lose my job and a substantial portion of my retirement savings this likely putting me and my spouse in poverty for the rest of my life. Sorry for not being enthusiastic about your ideas

[The Liberal Lion]

28. Well, you've made your choice

But take solace in the fact that there are many out there in same position as you who, unwilling to make the sacrifice necessary, will choose for their comfort instead of actually doing what it takes to bring this nightmare to heel. I can only wish you good luck as you remain prostrate to convenience.

[tonyt53]

20. Who the hell is this going to affect on Labor Day? Working people traveling on a long weekend.

Sort of like shutting down a freeway.

[jalan48]

31. Rahm Emanuel? Isn't he a Democrat?

[oberliner]

32. Every mayor of Chicago has been a Democrat since 1931

[jalan48]

33. So it's OK to call for the resignation of some Democrats?

[oberliner]

34. If they are not happy with what he is doing, they have a right to protest

And to call on him to resign.

It's not like they are advocating for a Republican to take his place.

[brooklynite]

36. Stupid strategy...

...Protests should be targeted at the people determining the policy. Targeting ordinary people, many of whom aren't Chicago citizens and have no ability to influence a policy change is pointless.

[oberliner]

42. Who are the people determining the policy?

And how should they be targeted?

[LanternWaste]

49. You then have zero idea?

[Pope George Ringo II]

38. As a frequent flier, I've got to label this one as counterproductive.

If it affects flight ops at all, it's going to be because flight crews will have trouble getting to/from hotels, or some ground crew will be delayed getting to work. It's a little late in the day to really impact flight crews, though. An outright majority of the people impacted will live elsewhere and be traveling elsewhere, but are just changing planes at ORD. Half the rest don't live there and are flying home from the ORD area. Since this a Chicago issue rather than an Illinois issue, that limits the relevance of the people impacted even further. The people with status at United will try to change flights to connect through IAH or EWR or whatever, and the people without status will just decide to fly AA and connect through DFW or CLT or whatever next time.

The vast majority of what it's going to do is annoy people who don't even live anywhere near Chicago. They're not going to be annoyed with the mayor, they're going to be annoyed with the people. That doesn't help the city as a whole.

UA has predictably been trying to minimize the impact, and they'll probably succeed. https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/united-airlines-mileageplus/1928584-possible-disruptions-driving-chicago-o-hare-monday.html

[brooklynite]

40. Well, THAT was exciting...

60 people showed up; 12 were arrested for marching on the highway next to airport.

I'm sure everyone learned a valuable lesson.

[oberliner]

41. What was the lesson?

[Vinca]

47. If you're going to plan a demonstration don't make it a stupid one?

Can't win people to your cause by pissing them off.

[leftyladyfrommo]

45. I think O'hare got shut down by bad storms today.

I have a friend trying to get to Ireland today. Many, many flights were canceled.