Hundreds of protesters gathered in Chicago’s River North neighborhood on Saturday to express their opposition to Donald Trump’s actions during his first week back in office. Originally planned for his inauguration day, the march was postponed due to cold weather. Over 65 advocacy groups joined forces to fight for causes like LGBTQ+ rights, immigrant protection, and peace in Gaza.
During his first week, Trump signed several executive orders focused on immigration, aiming to tighten detention policies and end humanitarian parole programs. While some of these measures are already being challenged in court, they have caused fear and uncertainty among immigrant communities. Reports of planned large-scale immigration raids in Chicago, though not yet realized, have heightened tensions.
At Water Tower Place in Streeterville, organizer Jinan Chehade addressed the crowd, calling for unity and continued resistance. “This is not the time to back down,” she said. “Together we fight, and together we’ll tear down every wall of oppression.” The rally was followed by a march down Michigan Avenue, with chants like, “Say it loud, say it clear, immigrants are welcome here,” echoing across the city.
Voices from the Crowd
Leslie Ochoadieta, a 19-year-old from the northern suburbs, attended the protest with her sister and cousin to support her parents, who immigrated from Mexico over 20 years ago. She shared her childhood memories of fearing for her father during his immigration court proceedings. “What if he didn’t come back from court?” she recalled. Despite her parents now being in the immigration process, she said the fear of detention remains constant.
“It gets worse every year,” Ochoadieta explained. “We’re living in fear every day, even though we’ve prepared and know our rights.”
Elizabeth Lopez, a 33-year-old from Hanover Park, echoed similar concerns for her family, many of whom are undocumented. She described the lasting impact Trump’s immigration policies have had on her life since childhood. “Now my relatives are too scared to even go to work,” Lopez said. “It’s heartbreaking that people have to live this way.”
Lopez also expressed her own fears about Trump’s threat to end birthright citizenship but emphasized the importance of standing up for her family. “We’re not alone in this,” she said. “There are so many people willing to fight. I’m done staying silent.”
Marching for Change
The protest highlighted the fear and resilience of immigrant communities in Chicago and beyond. As Trump’s administration pushes for stricter immigration policies, activists and families vow to keep fighting for their rights. “Do not give up,” Lopez said. “This is a fight we’re not backing down from.”
