Public Comment

A Chicago snow plough, normally used to confront the sometimes vicious snow storms this city routinely receives during its harsh winters, is being used as a go-to security suppression device. It has been one of my most enduring images at this Democratic National Convention (DNC) 2024.  

These snow plows are parked in 2’s and 3’s, dozens of them, on many side streets leading up to where the DNC is being held, the United Center, also home of the Chicago Bulls basketball team. These snow ploughs are a low-tech symbol of the intensive security measures that exist all over Chicago as this convention enters it third day. These machines all have Chicago Public Works employees sitting in each driver seat, carry out their 8-hour shift, stationary, waiting to be called to go block a street or intersection. They are being used to divert both vehicular traffic and protester traffic. They are perhaps the lowest of low-tech, but doing the grunt work for the high tech security plans orchestrated by the Dept. of Homeland Security, Secret Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Chicago Police Department. That effort is also backed by many foot soldiers from various Illinois cities and other states, some in battle fatigues, bullet proof vests, and carrying automatic weapons. Last night I saw one group of about 40 (soldiers?) in two lines high-stepping down a busy street adjacent to the United Center as dusk descended on the Windy City.