(The Center Square) – As demonstrations continue against immigration law enforcement in several U.S. cities, a progressive political coalition has planned a large-scale protest against President Donald Trump in Chicago Saturday afternoon.
The Chicago Teachers Union, Citizen Action/Illinois, Equality Illinois and Illinois NOW are among the groups partnering with Indivisible Chicago for Saturday’s “No Kings” protest against President Donald Trump. The rally and protest is scheduled from noon to 2 p.m. at Daley Plaza in Chicago’s Loop.
Other groups partnering with Indivisible Chicago for Saturday’s protest include the Chicago Federation of Labor, Trans Up Front IL and Young Dems of Chicago.
Indivisible Chicago called for a national day of defiance but also posted a message urging people not to engage in violence.
“A core principle behind this action is a commitment to nonviolent action. We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values,” the group stated.
On Tuesday, anti-U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement protesters blocked streets in downtown Chicago and vandalized more than 20 vehicles. Seventeen people were arrested.
Chicago Alderman Silvana Tabares expressed frustration with incidents across the city during the protests.
“I’m sick of brain-washed kids trying to add meaning to their lives by causing chaos & violence. While CPD was pulled from districts to go downtown to handle want-to-be revolutionaries, people were still being shot, robbed, and battered across Chicago,” Tabares posted on X Wednesday.
The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights had a rally and protest titled “ICE out of Illinois, ICE out of everywhere” scheduled in downtown Chicago late Thursday afternoon.
ICIRR received over $63 million in Illinois state taxpayer funds from July 2024 to February 2025, according to the Illinois Comptroller vendor payment system.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson expressed support for protest groups and said President Donald Trump is abusing his power.
“I am counting on all of Chicago to resist in this moment, because whatever particular vulnerable group is being targeted today, another group will be next,” Johnson said.
The mayor called for dissent but also emphasized nonviolence. With a reference to Martin Luther King Jr., Johnson said nonviolent resistance exposes the moral defenses of the opponent.
“He has no answer for it, but if you use violence, he does have an answer. He has the state militia,” Johnson said Wednesday.
When asked about Chicago Police Department involvement, the mayor said the resistance has one enemy.
“When a small number of protesters set things on fire it plays into the hand of authoritarians like Donald Trump, who take advantage to ultimately repress all protesters,” Johnson said.
At a city council housing and real estate committee hearing Wednesday, Chicago resident George Blakemore called out several Chicago aldermen for joining protesters and supporting illegal immigration.
“It’s out of control! It’s unacceptable! It’s un-American. And what party do they all belong to? The Democrats,” Blakemore said.
Catrina Barker contributed to this story.
