Thousands are expected Saturday as “No Kings” rallies are set for Lake and McHenry counties to protest the Trump administration, with organizers saying the president “thinks his rule is absolute.”
Indivisible, a progressive movement organization with chapters across the United States, is the lead organizer of No Kings.
The anti-Trump “No Kings” protests drew thousands of people in Lake and McHenry counties when they were held in June.
The organization said they expect millions of attendees across the country to attend the second round of No Kings protests, which are scheduled for Saturday.
No Kings organizers say a core principle behind their events is a commitment to non-violent action.
“We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values and to act lawfully at these events. Weapons of any kind, including those legally permitted, should not be brought to events,” the event organizers say.
In the Chicago area, dozens of protests are set, with three in McHenry County and three in Lake County.
Indivisible McHenry County said they are hosting the McHenry rally at Route 31 and McCullom Lake Road from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.
October 18 is a “national day of action” with hundreds of peaceful protests occurring across the nation on the same day, said Sue Rose, the Indivisible McHenry County Communications Lead and Steering Council Member.
“We expect that Indivisible McHenry County’s protest rally will be huge. Approximately 5,000 people attended our last No Kings rally,” she said.
Rose said Indivisible McHenry County is a local chapter of the national Indivisible organization.
“We are a nonpartisan group of progressive individuals who value democracy. Our chapter began in April of 2025 and has grown to more than 3,000 members. We are a strong, cohesive group,” she added.
McHenry Police Commander Nicholas Clesen said, “We have assigned a few officers to the area of the demonstration scheduled for tomorrow to ensure everyone remains safe and the demonstration occurs peaceably.”
“There were no major issues with the last demonstration in June and we expect the same during this event,” Clesen added. “The McHenry Police Department is always committed to public safety, the enforcement of state and local laws, and protecting the civil liberties of all people.”
Indivisible NE Lake County said they expect thousands of Lake County residents to gather in Gurnee at 10 a.m. Saturday at Hunt Club Road and Grand Avenue “in support of democracy and in opposition to the shutdown of our government and the militarization of our streets.”
“This past June, 4,500 of my fellow Lake County, IL residents joined together and peacefully took to the streets and declared with one voice: NO KINGS,” said Sherri Farris, a volunteer leader with NE Lake County Indivisible.
“Now the administration is doubling down — sending militarized agents into our communities, silencing voters, and handing billionaires giveaways while our families struggle. This isn’t just politics. It’s democracy versus dictatorship. And in Lake County, we’re choosing democracy,” Farris said.
The Gurnee Police Department said the June protests remained peaceful and that they are following a similar public safety approach to the one on Saturday.
“We will have additional personnel and security measures in place, as we routinely do for planned public gatherings,” Gurnee Police Department Public Information Officer Shawn Gaylor said.
In addition to the Gurnee and McHenry events, No Kings rallies are scheduled for Highland Park, Buffalo Grove, Algonquin and Crystal Lake.
Protesters will gather at Highland Park City Hall from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., at Lake Cook Road and Weidner Road in Buffalo Grove from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Algonquin Road and South Harrison Street in Algonquin from 9:30-11 a.m., and outside The Pointe Outreach Center, 5650 Northwest Highway in Crystal Lake, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
“Our message to attendees is to please exercise their First Amendment Right peacefully,” Crystal Lake Deputy Police Chief Richard Neumann said in response to the Crystal Lake event.
Buffalo Grove village officials said that “the Buffalo Grove Police Department takes every measure to ensure the safety of all,” adding that there will be an increased police presence at the event.
“The president thinks his rule is absolute. But in America, we don’t have kings, and we won’t back down against chaos, corruption, and cruelty. Grow our movement and join us,” an event advertisement for the Crystal Lake rally said.