Politics
‘No Kings’ Protests Return to Chicago Area Saturday. Here’s What to Know
Protesters walk down Michigan Avenue during the "No Kings" march Oct. 18, 2025. (Bridgette Adu-Wadier / WTTW News)
Residents across Chicago and Illinois are planning to join the third nationwide “No Kings” protest this weekend, which organizers believe could become one of the largest mass protests in U.S. history after a surge in participation from suburban and red state areas.
Saturday’s day of action is expected to include millions of protesters in more than 3,000 planned demonstrations across the U.S., including a handful of events in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs.
“This is our chance to say no to the lawlessness, to the cruelty that is being perpetrated by our very own wannabe dictator Donald Trump,” Lisa Gilbert, co-president of the nonprofit consumer advocacy group Public Citizen said during a press call Thursday morning. “It’s our chance to say no to a president who has been consistently abusing his power.”
What is the “No Kings” Protest?
The “No Kings” theme was orchestrated by the 50501 Movement, a national group advocating for democracy and against what they call the authoritarian actions of the Trump administration. The name 50501 stands for 50 states, 50 protests, one movement.
“The president thinks his rule is absolute,” event organizers said in a statement on their website. “But in America, we don’t have kings — and we won’t back down against chaos, corruption, and cruelty.”
Why are people marching?
Organizers on Thursday outlined a litany of concerns that are drawing people to participate this weekend including the Trump administration’s deployment of aggressive immigration agents in cities across the country, the war with Iran, skyrocketing gasoline prices and inflation driving up the prices of groceries and other consumer goods.
“Let’s be clear, the Trump administration has become a threat to the American people at every level,” Katie Bethell, executive director of the nonprofit advocacy group MoveOn Civic Action, said Thursday. “They spent $25 billion and counting on a war nobody wants … Where’s the money for people struggling to afford their rent, groceries, gas or health care?”
The ACLU of Illinois, one group organizing Saturday’s event in Chicago, said people are mobilizing “to stand up for our democracy and against the Trump Administration’s abuse of power.”
“This nationwide day of action comes in response to escalating threats to our rights and democratic institutions,” the group in a statement. “We are seeing efforts to silence dissent, punish political opponents, undermine the role of the courts, and target immigrants and communities of color.”
How many people are expected to participate?
According to event organizers, more than 5 million people took part in the first round of No Kings protests last June. Months later in October, 7 million people participated in the 2,700-plus rallies held across the country during the second No Kings protest, organizers said.
They expect Saturday’s event to become one of the largest single-day, nonviolent nationwide protests in U.S. history.
Indivisible, the activist organization spearheading the third round of No Kings protests this weekend, said roughly two-thirds of more than 3,000 planned demonstrations will be held outside urban areas. Overall, more than 9 million people are expected to turn out nationwide.
“We’re going to be everywhere,” Indivisible co-founder Ezra Levin said.
Organizers said sign-ups have been especially enthusiastic in suburban areas with high-profile congressional races like Scottsdale, Arizona; Langhorne, Pennsylvania; East Cobb, Georgia; and in northern New Jersey’s 11th District, which holds a special election April 16.
Where are events scheduled around Chicago?
The largest local protest will be held downtown at Butler Field inside Grant Park on Saturday afternoon. Organizers expect “tens of thousands” of participants. A rally there is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. followed by a march through the city.
“As the atrocities from the Trump regime have grown, so has our resistance in Chicago and across the country,” Chicago event organizers said in a statement. “Help us show the nation and the world that Chicago is united in opposing the illegal, cruel, and destructive attacks against our neighbors, our communities and our democracy.”
Additional events are planned in the Lakeview and Edgewater neighborhoods.
Other suburban protests are planned in:
Evergreen Park — 3-5 p.m. at 9500 S. Western Ave.
Cicero — 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Cicero Town Hall
Oak Park — 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at Scoville Park
Lincolnwood — 2-3 p.m. at The Carrington at Lincolnwood
Evanston — 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Dawes Park
Park Ridge — Noon-1:30 p.m. on Touhy between Summit and Prospect
A full map of No Kings events is available here.
How are Chicago police preparing for the protests?
A spokesperson for the Chicago Police Department this week said “additional resources” will be deployed and visible throughout the city on Saturday in order to “protect all those exercising their First Amendment Rights, as well as all those living, working and visiting in affected areas.”
Officers assigned to specialized units will have their day-off cancelled Saturday, but the CPD said it will not be implementing department-wide day-off cancellations.
Joel Ortiz and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
