"No Kings" protest in Chicago Saturday: What to know about the anti-Trump rally
Thousands are expected to attend the "No Kings" protest in Chicago Saturday, an anti-Trump rally planned for the same day he will hold a military parade in Washington, D.C., for his birthday.
According to the official No Kings website, "On June 14 — Flag Day — President Trump wants tanks in the street and a made-for-TV display of dominance for his birthday. A spectacle meant to look like strength. But real power isn't staged in Washington. It rises up everywhere else."
"No Kings is a nationwide day of defiance," they continue. "We're taking action to reject authoritarianism—and show the world what democracy really looks like. On June 14th, we're standing together to say no thrones, no crowns, no kings."
In April, tens of thousands of people filled up Daley Plaza and shut down city streets for an anti-Trump protest organized by the 50501 movement, which stands for "50 states, 50 protests, 1 movement."
"This is very personal to me, for my community, for all the people that are impacted," said Betty Alzamora, a board member of Indivisible Chicago.
Indivisible Chicago is helping to plan the No Kings protest in Chicago.
"Legitimately, people want to be able to take to the streets to voice their anger, their rage," Alzamora said.
Where and when are Chicago protests?
Around 1,800 protests have been planned across the country for Saturday. Chicago's main protest will be held from noon to 2 p.m. in Daley Plaza, and is primarily being organized by Indivisible Chicago.
Dozens of additional protests are planned for the Chicago area, including in Des Plaines, Mount Prospect, Oak Park, Arlington Heights, Schaumburg, Palatine, Evanston, Bartlett, Highland Park, Elgin, Naperville, Lisle and more.
There are also other, smaller events planned in the city of Chicago itself. A senior event will be held in the city's Edgewater neighborhood, and a family-friendly Chalk the Walk pre-protest gathering will be held on the Northwest Side to make signs, draw chalk art and engage in community building activities for all ages.
Street closures and detours for No Kings Chicago protest
The Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications has not yet announced street closures, detours, reroutes or other measures they're planning for Saturday's demonstrations, but information is expected in the coming days.
The "No Kings" protests are taking place against the backdrop of anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles, which have escalated after Mr. Trump ordered the National Guard in to respond, which in turn has safety top of mind for officials preparing for the Saturday rallies
Anyone attending the protest downtown is encouraged to use CTA to get there. Daley Plaza is accessible by the CTA Blue Line Washington and Monroe stops; the CTA Red Line Lake stop; and from State/Lake, Washington/Wells and Washington/Wabash on the Brown, Pink, Orange, Purple and Green lines.
Other protests held in Chicago ahead of Saturday rally
On Tuesday, organizers continued to gather at Immigration Court, which was reportedly set to close early for the day as some protesters had been a near constant presence. Meanwhile in that court, Ramón Morales Reyes — a Mexican national who has lived in Wisconsin for 20 years — was released on bond.
Morales Reyes was accused of a writing a letter threatening Trump in a blistering social media post by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. The post includes Morales Reyes' photo and an excerpt from the letter he purportedly wrote in English. But the claims quickly fell apart as Wisconsin authorities determined that Reyes, who doesn't speak English well or write in the language, was framed.
The immigrant from Mexico was a victim in a violent 2023 attack where his bike was stolen. According to authorities, the alleged attacker, 52-year-old Demetric D. Scott, forged the letter to try to clear his case. Morales Reyes was set to be a witness in Scott's July trial for armed robbery and aggravated battery.
Judge Carla Espinoza ruled that Morales Reyes was not a danger to the community after she determined he was the victim of an alleged setup.
On Tuesday evening, a protest was held in Federal Plaza, followed by a march through downtown streets that sometimes culminated in clashes with police. Thousands of people took part in the march.
Meanwhile, a car sped through the crowd early in the march. The maroon sedan narrowly missed demonstrators.
But the car did not deter demonstrators, who kept marching and holding signs. Chicago police were out in the force monitoring the group on both the ground and in the air by helicopter, but the crowd grew larger and larger as it zigzagged through downtown.
Along State Street in the Loop, several Chicago police squad cars were defaced with anti-police graffiti. Several people were also arrested during skirmishes with police at various points through the evening.
