Anti-Trump protests will be held in Lake and McHenry counties on Saturday demonstrating against the president’s aggressive crackdown on immigration, among other issues.
Indivisible and a coalition of pro-democracy partner organizations announced a movement called “No Kings,” set for Saturday as part of a nationwide “day of defiance.”
The protests are scheduled to take place during President Donald Trump’s military parade in Washington, D.C.
The organizations say that the protests aim to take away attention from the military parade.
“Donald Trump wants tanks in the streets 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,” the No Kings website says.
“June 14th is also the U.S. Army’s birthday — a day that marks when Americans first organized to stand up to a king. Trump isn’t honoring that legacy. He’s hijacking it to celebrate himself,” the website adds.
The No Kings organizers cite Trump defying courts, deportation of people, civil rights violations and cutting of services as reasons for the protests.
The protests are scheduled to take place across the United States, including in the Chicagoland area.
In Lake County, “No Kings” events are being held in Highland Park at the City Hall from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., in Gurnee at the intersection of Grand Avenue and Hunt Club Road from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., and in Buffalo Grove at the intersection of Weidner Road and Lake Cook Road from 12-2 p.m.
A demonstration is also set in McHenry County at the intersection of Route 31 and McCullom Lake Road in McHenry from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“From city blocks to small towns, from courthouse steps to community parks, we’re taking action to reject authoritarianism and show the world what democracy actually looks like: people, united, refusing to be ruled,” the organizers said.
The organizers also say that one of their “core principles” behind No Kings events is non-violent action.
“We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values,” the event listings say.
The Lake County protests are being co-organized by Lake County Democrats, which has previously organized prior protests in the area.
The City of Highland Park said Friday that a large crowd is anticipated to gather for the Highland Park No Kings demonstration.
“The City has also been made aware of the potential for a peaceful counterprotest. The City has been in contact with the event organizers and no march is planned,” city officials said in a statement.
The Highland Park Police Department will be on-site for public safety monitoring and will have an increased presence in downtown Highland Park to protect residents’ First Amendment right to peacefully assemble.
The city said they are also in “close communication and coordination” with regional law enforcement agencies.
Temporary road closures will be in effect Saturday morning in Highland Park until the crowd has dispersed. St. Johns Avenue will be closed from just south of the Laurel Avenue intersection to just south of Hazel Avenue.
Hazel Avenue will be closed just east of the entrance to the Hazel Avenue parking lot. The north entrance to the Metra lot is included in the road closure and will not be accessible.