On the evening of March 3, 2,000 people came out to downtown Chicago to stand up for trans liberation and to fight back against the Trump regime’s rollback of federal protections for transgender youth in schools.
The protest, organized and led by trans people, began shortly after 6 PM with a rally at Wacker and Wabash across the river from Trump Tower; a site which has now become a frequent gathering place for those confronting the most visible symbol of the president in Chicago.
The crowd, which after a short time began to swell beyond the confines of the riverfront plaza, started off with chants of “Black Trans Lives Matter!” and “When trans people are under attack, what do we do? Stand up fight back!”
A speaker from the Trans Liberation Collective, one of the primary organizers of the event, addressed the assembly and said that they had gathered “to take the streets for our liberation.” The phrase “trans up front” was a rallying cry throughout the evening because, as was explained, “trans people are everywhere and a part of all communities” and therefore, “The liberation of trans people will be tied up in the liberation of all other peoples.”
A strong emphasis was also placed on mourning, honoring and uplifting the names of the eight trans people murdered so far this year. Particularly in the forefront of many people’s minds was Keke Collier, a young Black trans women who was shot to death less than two weeks prior in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood. Such recent and nearby violence underscored the dire urgency of the night’s protest for many.
A little after 7, the protesters began to pour out into the streets, marching south on Wabash, and shutting down intersections while bringing their message of liberation and solidarity to the city.
The marched paused outside the Metropolitan Correctional Center near Van Buren and Clark to chant for an end to prisons and mass incarceration. Those incarcerated inside flicked their lights in a powerful show of support and solidarity.
The march continued winding through the streets of downtown Chicago until coming to Federal Plaza, where participants occupied the square to hold a vigil for the trans individuals lost this year.
The night’s action was a powerful reminder of what the people can accomplish when standing in solidarity and unity. It was also a clear sign that the trans community is coming together and building up its strength and organization.
If the people continue to come together and support these crucial struggles to defend vulnerable trans youth and to stand up against all barriers to full liberation, then there is no limit to what else we can accomplish.
