Chicago activists say FOX SUX, War Sux in Downtown Rush-Hour Protest

Posted by Mitchell - September 28, 2006 (entry 415)

About a dozen people attended the lively FOX SUX protest and outreach efforts organized by Chicago Media Action, and in downtown Chicago in the late afternoon and early evening hours on March 15, 2006.

The protest, despite its relatively small size, had tremendous visibility right outside the studios of Chicago's FOX affiliate, near the heart of Chicago's Michigan Avenue -- the busiest street in downtown Chicago -- and during the evening rush hour -- the busiest time of day. Dozens of Chicago Transit buses passed by the protest increasing the potential outreach, hundreds of flyers were passed out, and the action had an energy and rapport with many passers-by (including a few employees of FOX Chicago).

Media-themed posters and signs were in abundant supply at the protest, and included signs reading "The media: As liberal as the corporations that own them", "We're watching the news. We'll let you know if we find any.", "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore", and "Deport Rupert Murdoch". (This last sign is ironic since Murdoch is a naturalized American citizen; Murdoch became a U.S. citizen precisely to evade FCC media ownership regulations affecting foreign-born citizens.)

Protest attendees also made available flyers about media-themed issues like independent media sources and the network neutrality debate in Congress.

The protest carried a serious antiwar theme as well. With the coming third anniversary of the launch of the Iraq War, protesters displayed banners involving the cost of war in dollars and in lives (Iraqis and Americans both), and a second banner spelling out the word "IMPEACH" accompanied by a photo of George W. Bush. Protest attendees also distributed flyers promoting the planned March 18 antiwar rally and march, also scheduled to march south down Michigan Avenue.

The protest was part of a National Day of Media Action called by the national activist organizations Mediachannel and United For Peace and Justice. Mediachannel reported interest in dozens of such media-themed actions across the United States.

The protest ended at about 6:10pm, at which the protest marched north about three blocks for a brief display at Tribune Plaza near the showcase studios of WGN Radio, which happened to be on the air during the display.

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