LA GRANGE, Ill. (WLS) — People protested new policies from President Donald Trump on Sunday in a rally called “Hands Across Chicagoland.”
The protestors lined streets while wearing black.
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The protest, which stretched from Chicago to Aurora and covered areas in between, was dubbed as a 30-mile long human chain that started in Aurora and concluded in Chicago’s Little Village. Although the number of participants may not have reached the expected tens of thousands, the gathering was still substantial.
“It’s going to take everyone all the time to make a difference,” protestor Teri Lee Nordstedt said.
Spanning across Ogden Avenue, hundreds and possibly thousands of individuals assembled, starting from Chicago and extending through Cicero, Brookfield, La Grange, Lisle, Naperville, and finally reaching Aurora. Their collective intent was to voice opposition against the Trump administration’s policies.
“We have to stand up and say that’s enough. Hands off. Hands off Medicaid. Hands off Medicare. Hands off SNAP,” stated Bill Mengebier from Indivisible Chicago.
The protest was put together by a coalition of democratic organizations across the city and suburbs, calling for people to come out and hold hands across Chicagoland. Tens of thousands confirmed in advance. The end number likely much smaller, but substantial nonetheless.
“When they start honking you feel like you’re not alone,” protestor Eunice Marriott said. “A lot of us are in our homes shaking our heads, scratching our heads, saying what can we do, doesn’t anybody see what’s happening and here we have that there are more of us.”
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“Every act of courage matters. And we are out here in our act of courage, no matter how small to make sure our voice matters,” protestor Rick Lunt said.
The protest also brought out some of the democrats already running to replace retiring Senator Dick Durbin in 2026, including Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton and Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi.
“Donald Trump made all these promises about what he was going to accomplish. He has not done any of it,” Stratton said.
“When they come for democracy, Chicago doesn’t whisper it roars. And that’s what today is about,” Krishnamoorthi said.
There was a small counter-protest as well, with a caravan composed of Trump supporters driving along the rout but mostly avoiding direct interaction with protesters
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