Around 1,000 people gathered in downtown Chicago on Saturday to protest Donald Trump’s election victory for the fourth consecutive day.
The protest began at 10 a.m. at Millennium Park, at 201 E. Randolph Street, according to a Facebook event. Hundreds of people then proceeded to march down Michigan Avenue, chanting things like "the people united will never be divided," and "we reject the president-elect." [[400937455, C]]
Shortly before 12:30 p.m., protesters began to march on the street on Michigan Avenue near Randolph St, bringing traffic to a brief standstill. Demonstrators paused near Trump Tower to chant before continuing to march north, causing rolling street closures.
Several activists carried signs that read, “America Was NEVER Great! We Need To OVERTHROW This System,” “We choose love,” “Still we rise,” and “Black Lives Matter,” among others.
According to one of the event organizers, protesters planned to make their way to a #NoDAPL protest by the Dirksen Federal Building at 2 p.m. 3,100 people RSVP’d that they would attend, with another 8,100 interested, the Facebook event said.
“Our protest on Wednesday night was the most powerful night of my life,” the event description reads. “We need to keep the ball rolling. This can NOT be a one night thing. I hope you all will come out this Saturday to help continue this fight for change.”
About 1,800 protesters marched downtown on Wednesday following Trump’s election, Chicago police estimated, shutting down Lake Shore Drive and chanting outside Trump Tower.
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At least five people were arrested, two for obstruction of traffic in a roadway, two for reckless conduct and criminal trespass to land, as well as a juvenile for criminal trespass to land and resisting arrest.
“Please keep everything peaceful,” organizers of Saturday’s demonstration asked on Facebook. “They will not hear the message if we react violently. #StrongerTogether”
Another group also gathered in downtown Chicago Saturday morning to host a “Love unites us all” rally “for equality and inclusiveness and in defiance of ignorance and bigotry,” according to a separate Facebook event.
“Understand that this is NOT A PROTEST, NOT A HATE GATHERING,” a post to the event reads. “In order to stand out from the rest of the crowd, we will wear PURPLE as a statement of unity. Purple is a mixture of Blue and Red - a symbol of Left and Right coming together UNITED to RESTORE the PEACE in OUR communities.”
3,000 people planned to attend that rally, according to Facebook.
