Not the Usual 1970s Protesters

Late in November 1970, a Lithuanian crewmember aboard a Soviet fishing vessel sought exile with the U.S. Coast Guard. The Soviet ship had anchored near Martha's Vineyard. Rear Admiral William B. Ellis ordered the Americans to return Simas Kudirka to the Soviets.

An international tangle flared, and Chicago Lithuanians—joined by other immigrants from countries absorbed by the Soviet Union—marched on (what is now) Daley Plaza to protest the State Department's mishandling of the incident.

My Dad attended and photographed the rally:
  

Chicago Loop, December, 1970. An older crowd gathers to protest the return of Kudirka.

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Chicago Loop, December 1970. "Only Dogs are Born Free in Russia." Playing at the movies: The Sand Pebbles, starring Steve McQueen.

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Chicago Loop, December 1970. Papier-mâché Russian Bear head.

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Chicago Loop, December 1970. Ha ha.

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Alan Arkin later starred in a made-for-TV-movie about Kudirka.

UPDATE: Stylish protesters, no?