Chicago hosted the No Kings rally on June 14, 2023, marking a significant moment in the ongoing public discontent with President Donald Trump’s policies and the controversial military parade held in Washington, D.C. in celebration of his 79th birthday. Tens of thousands of Chicagoans participated in this peaceful protest, joining millions across the nation who organized their own No Kings events.
In terms of law enforcement, the Chicago march saw only one reported arrest, with additional reports stating that tensions flared when a protestor was struck in the head by police during a standoff near the ICE Field Office on Ida B. Wells Drive. Organizers of the event were particularly focused on maintaining a peaceful atmosphere to avoid provoking a violent response.
Indivisible Chicago, a progressive activist group in partnership with the ACLU, played an essential role in securing permits and planning the march route. Denise Poloyac, an organizer with Indivisible, stated, “I think the city had an interest in making this a successful, peaceful protest, too.” She emphasized that the presence of police in riot gear often escalates tensions unnecessarily.
Working collaboratively with city officials to devise a march route, organizers ensured the safety of participants by blocking off certain areas, including the bridges along Wacker Drive, from traffic. Poloyac noted that a vital factor in the peaceful nature of the No Kings rally was the absence of riot gear among police and the non-deployment of federal troops, a stark contrast to the aggressive law enforcement actions witnessed during similar protests in other cities, like Los Angeles.
When questioned about the absence of riot gear during the Chicago protest, Garien Gatewood, the Chicago Deputy Mayor of Community Safety, explained that no riot occurred, eliminating the need for such equipment. “There didn’t need to be any riot gear because people were protesting peacefully,” Gatewood affirmed. He also acknowledged the importance of collaboration between organizers and the city to facilitate a safe, non-aggressive environment during protests.
Although police overtime is commonplace during these events, the extent of overtime logged for the June 14 rally remains unreported. In the past, the city has incurred expenses totaling hundreds of millions due to police overtime during similar community engagements.
Unlike the No Kings protest, some demonstrations aim for a more disruptive impact. During the 2024 Democratic National Convention, a group known as Behind Enemy Lines disrupted a planned family-friendly demonstration, highlighting the varied strategies protest organizers may employ. Local organizers have noted that there is a suitable time and place for each protest’s approach.
Poloyac also acknowledged the privilege that organizations like Indivisible Chicago and the ACLU enjoy when it comes to establishing dialogue with city officials regarding police presence, particularly the use of riot gear. She remarked, “We are predominantly white organizations, and I know that we are treated differently than communities of color.” This acknowledgment is particularly significant in light of historical instances, such as the 2020 protests following George Floyd’s murder, where police presence in riot gear intensified conflicts.
Sharon Hicks-Bartlett, an associate instructional professor at the University of Chicago who attended the No Kings rally, emphasized historical violence toward Black protestors as a factor contributing to lower visibility among Black participants in the No Kings actions. She noted that the decision by some Black individuals to refrain from participation is tied to a broader sentiment of division within the country and a sense of fatigue towards politics in general.
Reflecting on this divide, Hicks-Bartlett pointed out that Black panelists do not feel that the fight against Trump’s presidency fully rests on their shoulders. This sentiment coincides with the evolving landscape of civil rights, especially considering that one in ten Black people in the United States are immigrants, and many are adversely affected by policies like Trump’s travel ban, which targets African nations and countries with large populations of Brown-skinned citizens.
Among those who attended the No Kings rally were individuals who felt compelled to fight for humanity, regardless of their racial background. Taliah Shelton, a 17-year-old from Roseland, expressed her discontent with oppression and the need for equality. Holding a picket sign, she declared, “I feel like everybody should be treated equally, no matter what they look like. Black people have gone through a lot of oppression.” Shelton acknowledged the importance of collective efforts to incite change.
Similarly, Jah Wyatt, a 22-year-old from Marquette Park, positioned himself in front of Trump Tower during the protest. He criticized the $45 million expenditure on the military parade in Washington, arguing that those funds could have immensely benefitted neighborhoods like his for generations. Wyatt stated, “They see people looting in other cities and they say, ‘We shouldn’t support these people. Look what they’re doing,’ but they’re not looking at how we got to this point.”
Another young participant, Zuri Primm, 17, from Homewood, remarked on her motivation to protest as a means of influencing the future of the country she will be growing up in. She affirmed, “If I’m gonna have a life here, I want it to be right.”
In stark contrast to the jubilant protest atmosphere in Chicago, Washington, D.C. saw an array of soldiers and expensive military equipment parading down the streets, with only a sparse number of onlookers. This juxtaposition highlights the ongoing tension between governmental displays of power and the grassroots efforts for change taking place in cities across the nation.
Through calculated planning and collaboration, the No Kings rally illustrated that peaceful protest can emerge from an organized effort involving stakeholders from both the activist and governmental sides.
image source from：thetriibe
