Street photography has always been a passion and I got my money's worth when I photographed a protest against the Turkish invasion of Cyprus on Michigan Avenue on August 19, 1974. While a student at the University of Illinois, Chicago it was my mission to document pivotal events in the life of Chicago and the Greek Community. When I arrived on the scene the demonstrators were held back by the FBI and Chicago Police Department at the Conrad Hilton when President Gerald Ford arrived to speak to a Veterans of Foreign Wars convention as seen in Roll 1_ #35-36. The protest march continued on North Michigan Avenue with anti-Turkish and anti-Kissinger signs. People sat down on the streets as can be seen in Roll 2_#31-34. The Greek flag was waving at the Bank of Greece building in Roll 2_#23. The people that I recognize include my Greek School teacher Mrs. Helen Georgopoulos- Panagakis with her arm outstretched in Roll 2_#8A. Helen was a force to be reckoned with from the time she taught Greek language at Koraes Greek School, as principal of St. George Greek School, and the founder of Peiraikon Hellenic School. The second person is Petros Kogeones is wearing a plaid sports coat and smoking a cigar while marching. Petros was the owner of Dianna’s Restaurant in Chicago’s Greektown and can be seen in Roll 2_#9A-11A. Also featured is Bill Sianis in ROLL 2_TURKS GET OUT OF CYPRUS DEMONSTATION 1974_13A who is nephew of the first original owner of the Billy Goat Tavern a downtown hangout of journalists from the Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Tribune, most notably Mike Royko. Think John Belushi and Bill Murray and the SNL crew yelling Cheezborger, Cheezborger! Both Helen and Petros can be seen in photos from the Greek Independence Parades my exhibit called, "Gather Together: Street Photography by Diane Alexander White". The parade turned left on Randolph Street and continued onto the Richard J. Daley Center for speeches, and songs of liberty. An especially endearing photo is of a little boy guarding his mother's stall in the ladies room at the Daley Center. The protest photos are also on exhibit at the National Hellenic Museum to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Cyprus Invasion called Cyprus 1974. This album is being updated in 2024 for the 50th Anniversary for the Invasion of Cyprus in 1974.
