Thousands joined in a rally and march on Thursday in opposition to President Donald Trump’s attacks on immigrants and workers.
Thousands of people from Chicago and the suburbs came out on Thursday for a May Day rally and march to protest President Donald Trump’s policies.
May 1 is International Workers Day, a global holiday with roots in Chicago. It’s a traditional day for demonstrations, but this year’s activities carried an extra fervor because of Trump’s unprecedented first 100 days in office. Those at the march, and the people who helped organize it said they’d been driven to speak out because of Trump’s attacks on immigrants and workers.
Malena with Arise Chicago
Malena did not want her last name used because she fears retribution from the Trump administration. She got to work early in the morning passing out signs and coordinating with other union members before heading to Union Park to start the march. Malena and other Arise Chicago members worked for months on butterfly-shaped signs and two portable sculptures: a pile of ice curves that represent Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, and a bright sun, which represents the fire that will help immigrant communities push back and melt ICE.
“Everything has a special meaning,” Malena said in Spanish. “We all arrive here with an illusion: to raise our kids and give them a better life. But it has been hard. We are here to defend our rights. We are living in fear, but we can’t hide from it.
