WEST LOOP — Demonstrators packed West Loop streets on Labor Day to face up towards billionaires they accuse of abetting a presidential administration intent on deploying federal troops to the town.
Native unions and labor organizers held the “Employees Over Billionaires” march and collection of rallies Monday, the place labor leaders and elected officers stated union workforces can be amongst these standing towards a possible deployment of federal troops that might come as early as this week.
Mayor Brandon Johnson, who signed an govt order Saturday defending Chicagoans’ constitutional rights forward of the potential deployment, stood atop a float on the first of 4 deliberate rallies and stated “We’re gonna defend our democracy within the metropolis of Chicago.”
“We’re going to guard the humanity of each single particular person within the metropolis of Chicago, and we bought the baddest freaking labor motion within the metropolis of Chicago,” Johnson stated to a big crowd gathered on the Haymarket memorial, 151 N. Desplaines St. “We’re going to take this combat throughout America, however we defend the house entrance first.”
The rally was introduced early final week, after reviews emerged that President Donald Trump’s administration was getting ready to deploy 1000’s of Nationwide Guard troops to Chicago.
Since then, Trump administration officers introduced plans to ship a “giant contingent” of immigration brokers to Chicago, together with a tactical “strike staff.”
Protesters got here decked out in anti-Trump garb and wielded indicators lambasting the administration’s ties to giant companies and billionaires. One protester, who recognized themself as Katav, arrived on the rally wearing an animal costume often called a fursuit and held up an indication studying “Furries In opposition to Fascism!”
“Yeah, I believe it’s essential to be current, and I believe it’s essential to have a broad coalition of individuals out right here, so now we have Black, white, Asian, Latino,” Katav stated. “I believe we’d like folks of all differing kinds. So if you happen to like Marvel films, if you happen to like DC films, then come out and be a part of the protest.”
One other protester, Gordon, emphasised the significance of coming collectively within the face of threats from the Trump administration.
“Unity is so essential proper now,” he stated. “That’s what labor organizing is about, bringing folks collectively. We have to pay folks honest wages and deal with them with dignity.”
A number of unions have been represented at Monday’s “Employees Over Billionaires” march, together with the Service Staff Worldwide Union, United Auto Employees and the Chicago Instructor’s Union.
“Donald Trump, you bought one other factor coming,” stated Chicago Federation of Labor president Bob Reiter. “You wish to assault staff and unfold lies about Chicago. We’re not going to take the bait. We’re not extras in your little present. We don’t bought time for that. We’re the labor motion.”
Labor Day is a federal vacation celebrating the nation’s workforce that falls on the primary Monday of September. The vacation was codified after the Haymarket Affair in Chicago, which noticed a bloody conflict between police and demonstrators that left no less than 11 useless and 70 wounded on Might 4, 1886 following a peaceable rally advocating for an eight hour workday.
A number of audio system referenced the occasion and underscored the significance of Chicago’s function in international labor historical past.
“From that the the Haymarket to the stockyards to Pullman, we all know our historical past as a labor motion, and we all know when to combat and once we combat, we win!” Reiter stated.
The march made three different stops apart from the Haymarket memorial: outdoors the Valor Fairness Companions workplaces at 320 N. Sangamon St., outdoors a Goal retailer at 1101 W. Jackson Blvd.,and close to a Tesla dealership at 717 S. Desplaines St.
On the second rally, audio system shamed billionaire Valor Fairness CEO Antonio Gracias for volunteering on the Division of Authorities Effectivity whereas nonetheless serving because the chief govt of an fairness agency that manages $17.5 billion in property. Gracias was criticized for main a DOGE immigration process pressure whereas his agency spend money on quick meals and lodge corporations — sectors that depend on the immigrant labor pressure.
He left authorities in July after receiving extreme backlash from organizers, together with Saqib Bhatti with Bargaining for the Widespread Good, a labor rights group.
“How did he repay his immigrant staff? By heading the DOGE immigration Process Pressure – main Trump’s assaults on immigrants,” Saqib Bhatti of Bargaining for the Widespread Good stated on the rally.
The third rally took intention at Goal for pulling out of variety, fairness and inclusion initiatives when Trump started his second time period, whereas the ultimate rally pushed again towards Tesla CEO and former Division of Authorities Effectivity head Elon Musk.
The protest remained peaceable however did function some counter-protesters, together with a gaggle of left-wing advocates who referred to as out Johnson’s administration for the Jan. 3 police taking pictures of Timothy Glaze, who was shot 16 instances and was seen wielding a knife in bodycam footage, in keeping with WTTW.
Two of Monday’s protest leaders have been detained by police after staging a eating desk on Wacker Drive to advocate for restaurant staff’ rights, in keeping with the Solar-Occasions.
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