Chicago’s No Kings protest draws thousands to Loop amid Iran war, rising gas prices nationwide
Chicago’s No Kings protest draws thousands to Loop amid Iran war, rising gas prices nationwide
Thousands of people gathered in downtown Chicago on Saturday afternoon as another round of No Kings protests returned to the city and surrounding suburbs.
CHICAGO - Thousands of people gathered in downtown Chicago on Saturday afternoon as another round of No Kings protests returned to the city and surrounding suburbs.
The protest began around 1:30 p.m. at Butler Field in Grant Park, where a large crowd rallied and heard from several speakers, including Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.
Following the rally, protesters took to the streets in the Loop, marching west on Jackson Boulevard to Dearborn Street, before turning back east on Wacker Drive and then heading south on Michigan Avenue.
The protest ended on schedule around 4:30 p.m.
The Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) implemented rolling street closures in the area of Grant Park and throughout downtown during the protest.
Motorists in the area experienced increased traffic and reroutes as the march moved through the Loop.
What they're saying:
During the rally, Johnson spoke about unity and protecting working people.
"Look around, our movement is bigger, our resolve is stronger, and we're sending a message, no kings in America," Johnson said. "It's about the power of the people!"
He also called for continued action.
"We're coming back to the streets of Chicago on May 1st to have a day of action to ensure that the ultra-rich in the state of Illinois and across this country finally pay their fair share in taxes."
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson speaks at "No Kings" protest
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson addressed demonstrators gathered in Grant Park on Saturday for the "No Kings" protest, speaking to a crowd calling for change and accountability.
Organizers said the protests are meant to push back against what they describe as government overreach and policies impacting working families and immigrants.
In a statement ahead of the demonstrations, organizers said Americans are "fed up with this constant chaos" and are standing "in solidarity against the Trump administration’s overreach and heinous acts against working families and immigrants."
"Not only are our rights being taken away at home, but President Trump is waging an illegal war abroad where American service members and over a thousand innocent civilians have died while sending armed, untrained ICE agents to instill fear among travelers at major airports across the country instead of putting an end to a TSA worker funding crisis of his administration’s own making. Americans are fed up with this constant chaos, and they’re ready to stand in solidarity against the Trump administration’s overreach and heinous acts against working families and immigrants."
In response to the protests, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said, "The only people who care about these Trump Derangement Therapy Sessions are the reporters who are paid to cover them."
The backstory:
Dozens of demonstrations were scheduled around the Chicago area on Saturday, including in downtown Chicago.
Organizers said more than 3,100 events were planned in all 50 states, with millions of people expected to participate.
Rallies were also planned in more than a dozen countries around the world.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 18: Demonstrators gather at Butler Field in Grant Park for the 'No Kings! Rally and March' on October 18, 2025, in Chicago, Illinois. Thousands are expected to join the peaceful protest against the Trump administration's p
The demonstrations are the latest in a series of nationwide protests that began last year, when millions of people took part in similar events across the U.S.
This year’s protests come amid rising tensions over the ongoing war in Iran, surging gas prices and a partial government shutdown affecting security lines at airports around the country.
Trump is also facing sinking poll numbers. A recent YouGov poll done on behalf of The Economist found only 38% of respondents approved of the job the president was doing, while 56% disapproved.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll this past week put his job approval rating at 36%, a four percentage point decrease from a poll done the previous week.