In a powerful show of solidarity, thousands gathered at Daley Plaza in Chicago on Saturday, rallying for a diverse array of causes under the 50501 movement, which symbolizes the quest for 50 protests across all 50 states.
The event was a follow-up to the more than 1,200 “Hands Off” demonstrations that occurred two weeks prior, uniting over 150 individual groups in a fight against perceived injustices under the Trump administration.
Among the demonstrators was Cesar Roman, who shared the struggles of his family, many of whom live in constant fear of detainment by immigration officials, regardless of their legal status or the asylum claims they have submitted.
Roman’s cousin returned to their home city of Acapulco, Mexico, seeking refuge from the violence and threats posed by cartels, fearful of experiencing a fate similar to that of Kilmar Abrego Garcia—an asylum seeker who had spent 14 years in the U.S. before being deported to a high-security prison in El Salvador without any criminal charges or due process.
Even Roman’s parents, both Mexican immigrants who have been U.S. citizens for two decades, express concerns about their safety amid rising anti-immigrant sentiments.
“People are trying to flee and make a better life for themselves, and then come here to face bigotry and hatred,” Roman lamented. “Right now, they’re between the rock and hard place. Do they go back or get deported to some concentration camp in El Salvador?”
The crowd filled the plaza, visibly diverse, carrying a mix of anti-Trump and anti-Elon Musk slogans alongside flags representing different cultures and social movements, including Palestinian, transgender, Ukrainian, and American flags held upside down.
Several speakers addressed the assembly, asserting an urgent need for collective activism against perceived injustices in society. Tarek Khaill of American Muslims for Palestine emphasized the necessity of an arms embargo against Israel amid the devastating toll of ongoing violence in Gaza, which has reportedly claimed more than 51,000 lives.
Khaill urged the crowd to unite through shared struggles, challenging the contradiction of using taxpayer dollars to fund violence against civilian populations.
“You cannot claim genocide as self-defense while the slaughter of an entire civilian population with our tax dollars and our weapons goes on,” he stated, calling for a collective response to oppose the fascist tendencies he believes are emerging in U.S. society.
The march took over half of Clark Street for nearly six blocks, showcasing the determination and unity of those fighting for their respective causes.
Among those in attendance was Leslie Larson, a volunteer music teacher and long-time Chicago resident, who expressed her concerns over funding cuts to children’s programs and daycare centers. Larson passionately voiced her belief that such cuts harm the future potential of children.
“This is where we push our children to try to be better,” Larson stated. “It all starts then. … I don’t really understand why we’d take funding from that.”
The gathering demonstrated not only the urgent need to address individual issues such as healthcare, immigration, and education but showcased the strength found in unity, as various groups rallied together in support of their concerns.
Roman highlighted the significance of this coalition of voices, bringing a sense of comfort and shared purpose amidst a climate of fear.
“Right now we’re slipping into fascism, and I don’t think that’s hyperbole,” he remarked, emphasizing that targeting minority groups through fear-mongering is a hallmark of an authoritarian regime.
As he surveyed the sea of activists gathered around him, he reiterated the importance of collective action, stating, “We need everyone to show up. No one can be on the sidelines; we need to be in the streets.”
The demonstration at Daley Plaza illustrates the persistent fight against social injustices, with participants committed to advocating for their communities and creating a more inclusive society.
image source from：https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2025/04/19/50501-chicago-protest-trump
