Anti-Trump protesters rally downtown

SHARE Anti-Trump protesters rally downtown
elizabethvelasquez.jpg

Elizabeth Velasquez, 17, of Cicero, at a rally downtown Sunday to protest President Trump. | Mitch Dudek/Sun-Times

Several hundred protesters gathered downtown Sunday afternoon to voice their displeasure with President Donald J. Trump.

The protesters, totaling about 350, according to police, held a rally at 1 p.m. at Wacker Drive and Wabash, across the Chicago River from the Trump International Hotel and Tower.

“Where do I begin?” Elizabeth Velasquez, 17, said when asked what she doesn’t like about Trump.

“He’s anti-immigrant, he’s racist, he’s fascist, he doesn’t know how to respect women. He has all these sexual misconduct allegations against him and he thinks he can just get away with it because he rich and he’s white and that’s not right, and he should be called out for it,” said Velasquez, of Cicero.

“Everything that’s on the sign is why I came out,” said Jessica Funk, 34, a psychologist from northwest suburban McHenry, while pointing to a sign in her right hand that read: “Stop the Trump agenda of racism, sexism, bigotry and war!”

Jessica Funk, 34, at an anti-Trump protest downtown Sunday. | Mitch Dudek/Sun-Times

Jessica Funk, 34, at an anti-Trump protest downtown Sunday. | Mitch Dudek/Sun-Times

Speakers at the rally railed against Trump as a heartless fascist and bigot.

A group of five counter protesters occupied a corner across the street, each wearing a red “Make America Great Again” hat.

“Obviously there’s a lot character issues with Donald Trump, but people calling him a fascist is ridiculous,” said Will Murphy, 18, of Lake Forest. “If he was a fascist they wouldn’t even be allowed to protest right now.”

Anti-Trump protesters marched on the sidewalk to the Chicago Board of Trade while chanting “Immigrants in! Racists out!” and “Refugees are welcome here! No hate! No fear!”

Hundreds of people attend an anti-Trump rally downtown on Sunday. | Mitch Dudek/Sun-Times

Hundreds of people attend an anti-Trump rally downtown on Sunday. | Mitch Dudek/Sun-Times

Dozens of police officers on bicycles followed the group and closed traffic at intersections as protesters wound their way to the city’s financial center.

“It’s been a very peaceful event,” said one officer, who did not want to be named.

The event came one day after a Women’s March in the Loop drew an estimated 300,000 people who offered sharp critiques of the Trump administration. The events marked the one year anniversary of the Trump presidency.

The Latest
A 22-year-old man named Christian I. Soto was charged with murder, attempted murder and home invasion, official said during a Thursday media briefing. Rockford Police Chief Carla Redd said investigators haven’t determined a motive for the attacks.
Can a message generated by an algorithm ever match hearing from a human?
White Sox fans from all over will flock to Guaranteed Rate Field on Thursday for the team’s home opener against the Tigers.
Despite the addition of some new characters (human and otherwise) the film comes across as a relatively uninspired and fairly forgettable chapter in the Monsterverse saga.
Unite Here Local 1, representing the workers at the Signature Room and its lounge, said in a lawsuit in October the employer failed to give 60 days notice of a closing or mass layoff, violating state law.