Through Aug. 22, INTO ACT!ON 2024—a large-scale, pop-up, non-partisan festival of arts, culture, and voting power—is taking place at 2226 W. Walnut Ave., which is not far from the United Center (site of the Democratic National Convention). Hundreds of people have attended so far.
One of the centerpieces of INTO ACT!ON 2024 is an art exhibition full of pieces from local and national artists meant to entertain and/or provoke thought; among the subjects covered are voting, abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, women’s rights and the celebration of race.
Events that took place earlier this week included “Femme Frequency: All-Female DJ Showcase,” “Content Creators’ Got Talent: A PowerPoint Battle,” a screening of No One Asked You and an Afro-Puerto Rican bomba workshop. Among the celebrities who have attended are rapper/actor Common and actor Rosario Dawson (who interviewed No One Asked You filmmaker Lizz Winstead after the screening). Upcoming events include “NextGen Perspectives Featuring Jamila Woods,” “Palestine: Beyond Ceasefire” (with a special performance by Tamer Nafar) and a Kamala Harris viewing party.
In addition, there was a Planned Parenthood mobile clinic on the grounds on Aug. 19-20 that offered free vasectomies, medication abortion and emergency contraception. Protesters were absent but scrawled phrases such as “Parking Lot Murder” on the sidewalk outside the venue.
INTO ACT!ON 2024 is free as long as people RSVP at this link. Organizers said the event will be open at noon on Aug. 21-22, not 3 p.m. as stated on the website.