Thousands take to the streets Saturday to protest Trump at Naperville's ‘No Kings' rally
One of her latest concerns was the Saturday military parade in Washington, D.C., to recognize the U.S. Army's 250th birthday, which was being held at the same time that veterans benefits are being cut, said Pfister, a Woodridge resident. The military parade also coincides with Trump's 79th birthday.
Despite growing up during the Vietnam War era, Pfister said she had never been to a protest or rally before Trump was elected. But they're more important now than ever, she said Saturday while attending the 'No Kings' rally in downtown Naperville.
'I am afraid of our democracy being disembodied little by little,' she said.
A Naperville police officer monitoring the scene estimated a few thousand demonstrators participated in the gathering, which started at the Naperville Municipal Center and proceeded through the downtown streets as people carried homemade signs and chanted and drivers passing by honked their car horns.
'I feel to stay silent is to be complicit,' Mary Sunderland, a Woodridge resident, said. 'Every day is a new horror.'
Among the most recent was the attack Thursday on U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, D-California, who tried to ask a question at a news conference being held by U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and was removed from the room by security officers, taken to the ground and handcuffed.
'If they do that to a senator, what are they doing to a poor migrant?' Sunderland said.
Immigrant rights was one of many concerns protesters voiced via signs with messages readying, 'Due process for immigrants,' 'Immigrants aren't enemies' and 'No human is illegal.'
'The way they are treating immigrants is horrendous,' said Hugh Flanders, of Aurora, a retired social studies teacher.
'How are we standing still and watching people being hunted because their skin color is wrong,' said Violet Lekic, of Romeoville. 'What is being done in Washington in America's name is not American.'
Suzanne Akhras, a Syrian-American humanitarian activist, spoke of growing up in Syria when Hafez al-Assad came into power after a bloody coup.
'History has shown us repeatedly that dictatorships undermine the very principles of liberty and justice that we all enjoy,' said Akhras, who immigrated to the United States when she was 10. 'Dictatorships concentrate power only in a few of the elite that cozy up to that dictator, and it creates corruption and unfair systems for everyone. They suppress free thought and free speech and violate our basic human rights.'
Akhras said the world is watching the United States.
'The right to protest is more than just an American privilege. It's a responsibility,' she said. '… Let's not squander this moment.'
About 2,000 rallies took place nationwide as the 'No Kings' movement marked a nationwide day of defiance to denounce the Trump administration.
'We don't want kings. We don't want oligarchs,' Nancy Turner, co-leader of Indivisible Naperville, said.
U.S. Rep. Bill Foster, D-Naperville, addressed the Naperville crowd, saying he was trying to attend seven similar protests.
'You are not alone,' Foster said. '… Our democracy has been sucker-punched here.'
Several attendees said they felt they needed to stand up for democracy.
'The change of government from democracy to fascism is my main concern,' said Shelley Gale, of Willowbrook.
It took Gale two weeks to narrow down what she wanted to include on her protest sign, but ultimately decided on 'A con man is stealing your government' for the front and 'A draft dodger is firing veterans' on the back.
'I don't think Trump cares about anything but stealing our government,' she said. 'He's causing chaos and havoc. There's no due process and he's getting away with it.'
Jim and Terri Simak, of Naperville, said they believe the country is going backwards.
'What is happening these days is beyond reasonable understanding,' Terri Simak said. 'It's wrong and it's dangerous. Trump feels he is above the law and that's not what we believe in.'
The Rev. Sharon Rice, deacon of discipleship with the Community United Methodist Church in Naperville, said that as a person of faith she was concerned about the rise of Christian nationalism, people suffering, cuts to Medicaid and cruelty towards others.
Rice said she hopes the rallies across the country send a powerful message.
'There are people who do care about their neighbors,' she said. 'They care about the cuts to social services that the vulnerable rely on. They are tired of this cruelty. There's a positive message to our young people and the country they will inherit: There is hope down the road.'
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