I led a Burning Buildings tour today in the hellscape of Chicago.
We had difficulty at the beginning because of a supply chain issue. We had plenty of Kevlar suits in which to dress guests, but we were short on headgear. Instead of gas masks, some guests had to wear some old diving helmets we were able to get on Craig’s List, though a few young kids collapsed under the weight.
It was amusing dodging the gangs carrying Molotov cocktails, but we did get some cool photos of them throwing them. At one point three trucks carrying masked rioters collided, casting several of their passengers into the Chicago River, which itself was burning.
A large crowd of Finnish and Basque immigrants, who I think told us they were “illegal” (we couldn’t understand them really), were threatening an ICE unit with menacing songs and “Free Ferris” signs. We watched from a distance as they were tear-gassed. So were several women who were pushing babies in strollers.
We hoped to view a burned-out building lobby, but it was swarming with troops from the Guam National Guard, who had arrived dressed in shorts and tee shirts. While we watched, ICE descended on the lobby and arrested all of the troops for being illegal immigrants.
I guided the tourists back past several smoldering vehicles to the start point. My guests thought that the burning vehicles made a perfect end to the tour. Several of them asked to keep the helmets and Kevlar outfits because they were traveling to Portland and didn’t know what to expect.
After bidding them “Despedida!” I went immediately to an antifa cell meeting in a supermarket restroom. We voted to join a nationwide pastry sale fundraiser to pay for a TV and social media PSA starring multiple SNL actors making wicked insurrectionist fun of Trump, Leavitt, Bondi and Hegseth. We were almost interrupted by some MAGAs who wanted to use the restroom to paint swastika posters for a Young Republican meeting.
All in all, despite the smoke odor on my clothes, I thoroughly enjoyed the day, although the drive into and out of the city, dodging buses full of rioters, was a bit hairy.
I can’t wait for next week’s tour when we’ll be watching active bombings. I’ll bring ear plugs.
Edmund J. McDevitt
©October 23, 2025