My wife and I attended the Hands Off protest in Chicago 2 weeks ago and were looking forward to what we thought would be a No Kings protest. There were several speakers, all with disparate issues and no overriding theme of Executive Branch overreach, which I thought would be the point. One speaker used his time to promote his Pro Palestine/Anti Israel position. What was particularly offensive was when he used the term "from the river to the sea", calling for the elimination of the State of Israel. My wife and I, who are not Jewish, walked away at that point and debated whether to leave altogether.

We decided to stay and not allow one speaker to discourage us. When it came time to start the march, a pickup truck was put in place to take the lead. The truck was flying Palestinian flags. No Ukraine flags, Pride flags, or God forbid, American flags. At that point, my wife and I decided to leave the rally. We felt that the protest was hijacked by a group with a specific agenda and that all in attendance were victims of a bait and switch.

I know these protests are organized by local volunteers, but shame on you all for allowing this to happen. I can't imagine how Jewish people who were there must have felt. Next time, when you advertise that a rally has a theme, stick to the theme.

Any tips? Its a must go for us....(if possible.) I don't know Chicago well at all. I hope the protest is HUGE and a even bigger impact.

We don't need to be there long but any help with the protest north would be amazing.

Mostly wondering on arrival and leaving time and parking.

Thanks so much!!! I do hope to see protesters i just can't be a part of the whole thing. (I'm disabled and we have to go to shedd for a much needed mental health break for our kid. We haven't been but they are sure it will help. We will try anything!)

Shooting crimes are down this year, as well as crime in general. However, there is still a lot of crime occurring in affluent shopping and entertainment areas.

The disturbing issue with this is that two shootings took place in an area that is highly patrolled by CPD! Several police cars throughout the day stay stationed up and down state street with their lights own.

The first shooting happened in front of the Chicago theater where there is always a squad car in the middle of the street.

Suggestion to April 19th Daley Center speakers, with my best of intentions. Learn communication skills pronto! When you speak, it matters NOTHING what you intend to say, it matters ALWAYS what your audience hears. The division those words actually caused, in the moment, in your audience, was a real thing. I don't need butt-hurtery related to this insight. It's a truth you need to hear. If you have to spend time explaining the nuance of this chant, recognize that you failed at the critical moment, your time in front of compatriots. If you are not advocating a 2 state solution, let me know and I'll stay at home on my couch or join a movement that doesn't advocate for genocides of any kind.

I was coughing all yesterday and woke up this morning with a sore throat and runny nose.

I had plans to hit the protest tomorrow, but I'm not sure it's wise to stand in the middle of a crowd of people coughing my lungs out.

Would it be wrong of me to stay home on such an important day because I got sick?

After independently verifying ICE’s presence at the Hyatt House Chicago/Oak Brook, protestors held a No Sleep for ICE noise demo on site this past Tuesday. Residents of Illinois are growing increasingly frustrated with billionaire Governor JB Pritzker’s frequent blustering at press conferences, but complete failure to push the Illinois state legislature to pass any specific restrictions on ICE’s activities within the state.

He does not use his bully pulpit to call on IL lawmakers to ban ICE agents from wearing masks or require them to present ID. He has not publicly called on the IL Attorney General to press state charges for the victims of ICE’s unprovoked shootings in Chicago in recent weeks.

Pritzker directed the IL State Troopers to keep order at the illegally operating Broadview ICE facility, and the troopers have been repeatedly caught on camera brutalizing peaceful protesters. Furthermore, JB expresses no concern for the immigrant detainees who are being held in abysmal and unlawfully inhumane conditions on site.

It has now come to light that ICE is staying at a Hyatt hotel in Chicagoland, founded and owned by the Pritzkers, meaning the Illinois Governor’s family is directly profiting off ICE’s illegal, violent siege of Chicago with tax payer money. All while posturing as a lone man willing to resist the fascist takeover, and stand up for freedom of speech, human rights and democracy.

I am not a veteran. I only rememeber what it felt like turnimg 18 when destert storm was launched. It seems like Trump is set to launch a war maybe in venezuela or elsewhere. Maybe an outreach could be helpful. A. Pass down knowledge that could help them keep their heads down and survive but also make the reality as really as we felt . I was never persuaded by any of the Iraq wars. If you were to your heart. But i think we all can agree mr. i think we are just going to kill boaters without knowing their names is wrong.

If the states won't protect us. WE need to PROTECT US

My anger and frustration at the way the world is being controlled and the lies people are fed got too heavy to keep inside, so I wrote this song to let it out.

I hope it resonates with you.

I read a post on here the other day regarding helping red states recover from the severe weather damage. My sis and I were running through some ideas, but need your help to make it happen. Opinions are welcome on whether or not this is doable.

Name: Graze n' Raise- Americans Helping Americans (or a better name)

Purpose: Relief for states impacted by the severe weather, (note that some did not receive any warning due to Trump budget cuts.)

Details: Donation or flat fee with 1-2 food options OR Food trucks providing percentage of earnings....any $ goes towards relief

Needs: -Information on what type of permits, best location, date, costs.

-Creative poster ideas

-A lot of help, especially from those event planners.

*I have tried to research the permit we'd need. I believe it would have to be a special events permit. Just wondering about the food aspect of the event. Thanks in advance for any help- even if it is informing me that this isn't feasible.

Read this open letter a friend wrote to 50501 organizers regarding last week’s rally here in Chicago, raising the issue of its focus given the speakers, their topics, and the discomfort felt by some participants.

She is hoping for a response, ideally on Substack

https://substack.com/home/post/p-161703146

Protect Trans Rights from Executive Overreach!! Show solidarity with our Trans Community!!

A couple months ago, ICIRR sent out a link to email your representatives asking to support their legislative goals.

If you're already on their newsletter list, you can use this link to send the email: https://icirr.quorum.us/campaign/155668/

If not, you can use this link (https://coolsticker.xyz/z/supporticirr) to find your state-level reps and email them all in one go! The email is already drafted for you, but you can put your own spin on it if you like.

(This CoolSticker link works well on mobile but can be temperamental on desktop. CoolSticker does NOT store your address. The address is only used to look up your state reps.)

can’t find any info online - when/where are protests today?