Another Protest

Chicago Loop, December 1970. Here's one of the last images I have of the Simas Kudirka protest.

A march against Russian aggression will take place this Sunday, April 27, 2014, in Chicago.

Another Look

Chicago Loop, December, 1970. We still have a few more photos from the Simas Kudirka protest.

Here's a clip of Kudirka in Chicago, after the Soviets released him in 1974.

Underneath the Tree

Chicago Loop, December, 1970. This snapshot from the Simas Kudirka protest shows the Daley Plaza Christmas tree.

Let's look more closely at those hats.

Chicago Loop, December, 1970. Here's another snapshot from the Simas Kudirka Protest. Many of the protesters were Displaced Persons who settled in Chicago after the war.

The Protest Crowd

Chicago Loop, December, 1970. Here's another snapshot from the Simas Kudirka protest. Do you remember Dutch Mill Candies? Dutch Mill had a shop in Winston Plaza. When my Parents wanted to buy s special hostess gift, they drove to Lake Street and shopped at the Oak Park Fannie May.

Another View of the Protest

Chicago Loop, December, 1970. I found a few more images from the Simas Kudirka protest; I'll post them gradually.

Bear-Ass Reunion

Chicago Loop, December 1970. Here's that Russian Bear again at the Simas Kudirka protest.

Lietuvių Jaunimo Centras

The "Lietuvių Jaunimo Centras," or "Lithuanian Youth Center," was the South Side hub of cultural activities in the 1960s.

"JC's," as we called it, was close to the neighborhood occupied by the Marquette Parkers. JC's featured art exhibits at which the Displaced-Persons generation selected modernistic paintings for their homes. Each fall, the center hosted a "Madų Paroda," or fashion show. Expert knitters like my Mom and her friend, Donna, sometimes featured their pieces at the show. Children of the Marquette-Park DPs attended Lithuanian School every Saturday at the center.

JC's also sponsored a Lithuanian choir for teenage singers. I belonged to the choir for a couple of years. The choir practiced every Wednesday night. For me and three of my suburban friends—childhood pals from our satellite, Lithuanian School—choir practice was an opportunity to get out of the house during the middle of the week. Choir practice also served as a pretext when we decided to engage in other mischief. We played hooky so often from choir that the choir master once barely recognized us when we showed up in full folkdress for a performance. (Hi, Mom!!)

Jaunimo Centras is the place at which Lithuanians greeted Simas Kudirka when he finally emigrated to the United States. I sang at the reception that welcomed Kudirka to America.

Finally, JC's organized many stimulating historical conferences for the older set:

Gage Park, Chicago, December 1967. My paternal Grandmother, Tatjana, joins others for a presentation at JC's.

Addendum: The Picasso

I was reading a post at Althouse today, and I realized I'd neglected to publish a photo of the most identifiable landmark of Daley Plaza when I wrote about the 1970 Simas Kudirka Protest.

So here it is, the "Chicago Picasso," with placards under foot:

Chicago Loop, 1970. This is a photo from the only time my Dad participated in a political protest.

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?