Thousands of people in Lake County and millions across the country demonstrated against the policies of President Donald Trump’s administration over the weekend, and local organizers said the crowds were “joyful with a purpose.”
Some signs included mocking cartoons of Trump, as well as straightforward placards like the one carried by Sue Bandman of Waukegan, which read, “No King, No ICE, No war.”
“After what ICE did in Minnesota, we can’t have them on our streets anymore,” Bandman said, referring to immigration officers from the U.S. Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. “It’s all the wars, but mostly the current one in Iran.”
Bandman was among more than 9,500 people demonstrating against Trump and his policies Saturday in Gurnee, Highland Park, Buffalo Grove and Wauconda, enjoying each other’s company while their signs and clothing made their feelings known.
Rally organizers for their respective events said there were approximately 6,000 people in Gurnee, more than 2,500 in Highland Park, over 600 in Buffalo Grove and around 400 in Wauconda. More than 9 million gathered nationwide, according to Associated Press.
More Top Picks Best Brooks Shoes For Flat Feet
In Gurnee, people, many holding signs, lined two blocks of Grand Avenue on both sides of the street. There were also people standing on the east and west sides of Hunt Club with their placards.
Thomas Maillard, one of the two state central committee persons for the 10th Congressional District, was one of the marshals for the Gurnee event at the intersection of Grand Avenue and Hunt Club Drive. He said he sensed joy among the participants, though some were serious.
“The people were joyful, thoughtful and focused,” he said. “People were clear about the unpopular war and unlawful actions of the Trump administration. They got their message to the community with their signs and (passing motorists) honked their approval.”
Lake County Democrats Chair Lauren Beth Gash helped organize the Highland Park demonstration in front of City Hall. She too sensed feelings of optimism from the protesters there.
“There was a feeling of joy from the people because they were taking action and making a difference,” Gash said. “This is what patriotism looks like. There was a feeling of joy and an opportunity working to protect our democracy.”
Though the crowd of 600 was smaller than expected in Buffalo Grove, organizer Carolyn Pinta said the people there were in good spirits. A similar demonstration immediately south of Buffalo Grove in Arlington Heights may have lessened the size of the crowd, she said.
“This was a joyful crowd,” Pinta said. “They talked, laughed and held up signs. There was a lot of horn honking. There was a blowup of Baby Trump in a diaper. There was a little kid with his own sign.”
Mary Morgan, an organizer of the Wauconda rally, said people were happy getting to know there were feelings of displeasure with current events in a community that is known to be more conservative and Republican.
“Everyone was friendly and happy to be with like-minded people,” Morgan said. “They are also disappointed in the state of our country. There were a lot of people who told me this was their first demonstration.”
Adding to the festive environment in Gurnee was a group of singers from the Singing Resistance Movement led by Susan Heming. They moved through a 20-foot-wide grassy area between the sidewalk and Grand Avenue singing songs like “We Shall Overcome” and “This Land is Your Land.”
“I’m a singer,” Heming said. “This is the way I use my voice to bring joy. This started in Minnesota, and it’s spreading to other cities.”
More serious with his sign was Clay Erickson of Waukegan, who served in the Air Force from 1975 to 1979. It read, “Veterans Defend Democracy, Trump Does Not, All gave, some gave all.”
“I was there at the very end of the Vietnam War,” Erickson said. “He never served,” he added, referring to Trump. “He doesn’t understand how veterans defend democracy.”
Carol Parish of Grayslake was standing with two friends wearing a shirt reading “Same S—t” with cartoon images of an ICE agent, Trump wearing a MAGA hat, a person in a Ku Klux Klan robe and Adolph Hitler. Born in 1936, she was not shy about the comparisons.
“I’m 90, and I remember World War II,” Parish said. “I saw my parents go through it. This is like it.”
State Sen. Mary Edly Allen, D-Libertyville, was at the Gurnee event. She was also at the No Kings rally held there in June and another in October. Though some of the signs and messages on clothing were humorous, she said some of the language on them was getting saltier.
“People have had enough,” she said. “They’re likely feeling the pain. They are fed up with Trump.”
While thousands were demonstrating Saturday, local Republicans like Lake County Republican Central Committee Chair Keith Brin were not surprised at their message, their presence or their effort. He does not believe they will be satisfied until Jan. 20. 2029, when Trump’s term ends.
“I invite the protesters to keep showing America their true colors, and let the rest of us spend our time campaigning for good candidates for elected office,” Brin said in a text. “And, I congratulate the no kings protesters, once again, because America still doesn’t have a king. Well done.”
Mark Shaw, the Republican state central committeeman for the 10th Congressional District, said in a text that Trump is doing nothing more than he said he would during the 2024 presidential campaign — to “secure our borders, deport illegal aliens, protect us from our adversaries, reduce crime, and promote American job creation.“
“Ironically, if President Trump truly was a dictatorial king, the protesters would not be permitted to exercise freedom of speech,” Shaw said. “Maybe they should consider this before hypocritically criticizing President Trump for everything he does to make America great, prosperous, respected, safe and secure again.”
More Top Picks Ratings