On a cold day, 2,000 people came out into the streets from all over Chicago to march on Trump Tower. The protesters pledged to unite and defend immigrants, Muslims, people of color, women, LGBTQ people and all those under threat from the hard-right cabal that is set to take over the White House.
Nov. 22 Meeting, “This is a Movement – Next Steps to Stop Trump!”
“This is a movement, not a moment,” was repeated throughout the protest. Indeed. The energy generated over the last ten days of non-stop protest and organizing will surely lead to the growth of a new mass movement against racism, sexism and all forms of oppression. Participants, especially the youth, greeted calls enthusiastically from protest organizer John Beacham and Andy Thayer from the Gay Liberation Network to organize independently of the establishment parties.
Beacham said, “We are not waiting another 2, 4, 8, 20 or 100 years for some U.S. politician to save us. We need to do this ourselves … We will not unite with Trump or wish him success as many top Democrats have done. We are out to utterly defeat a Trump regime. We need to get organized. This is an emergency situation.”
At the kickoff rally at Federal Plaza we chanted, “No Trump, No KKK, No Racist USA!” “Not Our President!” and “Trump, escucha, estamos en la lucha.” Chanel Jefferies, Maria and Stefanie Fisher chaired the rally. Maria said, “What I want to say is simple. I am here to fight. We are going to fight and we will win!”
At Trump Tower, ANSWER opened the microphone to young first time protesters to speak their minds. Amanda, a young transgender woman, perfectly capturing the energy of so many people in the crowd said, “I love who I am. I would rather die fighting Trump, than change one single thing about who I am.”
Other chants that were well received were, “DC, Shut it Down!” and “Trump, We Are Coming For You!” The ANSWER Coalition is organizing a mass protest on Jan. 20, inauguration day, in DC and ANSWER Chicago will be organizing buses to the protest. Nothing is more powerful than the people organized and in the streets to defend the oppressed and fight for justice.
Nov. 22 Meeting, “This is a Movement – Next Steps to Stop Trump!”
Other speakers at Nov. 19 included: Lashawn Littrice, BLM Women of Faith; Juan, an organizer of the March 11 protest that shut down Trump at UIC; Brian Geiger, CPAC; Maya Arcilla, Secretary General of AnakBayan-Chicago; Matt Ginsberg-Jaeckle, La Voz de Los de Abajo; Hope Asya, Women Organized to Resist and Defend; Nataki Rhodes, Fight for 15; and Patrick McWilliams, Party for Socialism and Liberation.
