Anna Flasitz has never thought that she would organize a protest, not to mention her assembly within a few weeks that are expected to attract hundreds of people on Friday. But with uncertainty surrounding federal financing of laboratories throughout the country, the University of Illinois Chicago and a mother of two children felt that she was no choice.
“I think it's more urgent now, I think it is because of the way the government is making changes in policies, which is fast and angry,” Flasitz, who covered a similar protest during Trump's first presidency when I worked as a Wire journalist.
Flasitz said that one of the main differences is that the 2017 science march had about four months of time, while the organizers this time, the organizers did not feel that they could wait for four months.
“We are working on a shorter time and a feeling of this urgency to go out as soon as possible,” said Vlasits, who helps lead the Commercial Center for Science in Chicago-one of nearly a hundred protests of science.
It is not a single feeling that urgency. Since Trump took office in January to separate his second term, many protests took place throughout the city, the state and the country. Some of them were born outside the movements that started in response to the second Trump administration, while others were organized by veteran activists organizations or a group of newer and old organizers.
“I think at first, the media, especially the national media, like her,” the activity does not happen. Dennis Boluyak, a member of the Board of Directors of the Board of Directors in Chicago, a group of progressive activist led by volunteers with chapters throughout the region, said he is not organized and people do not know what they are doing, and this is not what we were facing or seeing here in Chicago.
Only this week, Chicago is scheduled to see at least six protests throughout the city, from a rally to Ukraine last Sunday to a march for International Women's Day on Saturday. Although the concentration of each protest varies, it seems that a common topic unites them all: Trump and Elon Musk rejected and administration's attacks on constitutional and federal law.
Tribune spoke to the protest organizers that took place this week and are planned at the end of this week and in the near future about the reason for the existence of a lot, what is the intended effect and how these protests differ from those in the first Trump presidency.
Chicago is indivisible
Since January 20, a non -retrosper Chicago has seen more than 5,000 people who have participated in its mailing lists, most of whom wish
“Sometimes I think in the past, as you know, when things are not the same, it would be so,” well, we may only have two procedures or action. “But at the present time, the organization has a lot of procedures to choose from that they are struggling to know every day and that must be highlighted.
In addition, the organization had approximately 1,000 people who communicate and say they are interested in performing larger leadership roles or joining an Indivible team.
Despite the huge number of measures that people take, Polok said that Chicago is not yet retailer has found a way to support almost every organization that she has reached and said she wanted to protest, some of which include organizations established either after Trump's second or after his installation.
Illinois transferred in the foreground
“We had no president in history trying to make many rapid rash changes,” said Ashir McMuhaler, CEO of Trans Up FRONT ELLLINOIS. For McMaher, who uses their/conscience, the Trump administration's second actions feel deep for them, their families and their society.
Shortly after Trump's second chairmanship, McCmohar said, “They started in the foreground to Illinois to provide a platform for a transient community during the time that Trump signed many executive orders that seek to limit the recognition of converting people and the ability of health centers to provide confirmed sexual care for people through people over the age of 19 years.”
“We know that transit health care, we know that the assertion of individuals is saving life.” “Our family knows more than ten families who lost a member of his family because of suicide because of these executive orders, and it is devastating to our community, especially our transitive teenagers.”
The first protest by their organization on February 15 was in front of the Leoring Children's Hospital, shortly after the hospital announced that it was suspended the care for sexual assertion for patients under the age of 19.
“This protest was really two people who were going to do this entirely, which is my wife and I,” said Makmamir.
“It was very strong. We had only teenagers crying because they had people fighting for them. Their appointments were canceled, not only once, but twice a week.” “We wanted to make sure that regardless of what is happening, they also see that there are adults and other teenagers and people who will defend them.”
Illinois is scheduled to keep the Trans Up team in the Federal Plaza team, which is the day before the International Clarification Day. In addition to the protest, the organization is also conducting anti -biased training, as it works individually with families who need help in gender support plans, legal representation and publishing on social media. McMaher also hopes to keep more donations for those who struggle to pay for certain types of care.
The organizers said that the feeling of urgency is not the only thing that is different from this moment. How people choose to organize, as the protests occur and what are the types of measures that people also take, they look different.
Other organizers
Becky Simon, head of the Illinois Volmitter Association, said that a comparison of Trump's first presidency, the protests are widespread and less focused in big cities. On Tuesday, multiple chapters of women's women in Illinois held protests during Trump's speech to Congress.
“We hope to make people participate in their local community, in their local government. Therefore, they do not focus exclusively on federal issues on a large scale, but they are also looking more carefully in their local government, cities, and school councils.” “This is where the individual has the greatest opportunities to make a change.”
Polok chanted similar feelings.
“We definitely saw, as I think, a real rise in organization in some nearby suburban areas, for example, as people feel that they really need to get their voices in those societies and are really visible,” Polok said.
In addition to the protests, Polok said that the indivisible Chicago has focused on its opposition to the Supreme Court in Wisconsin, where meetings were held in Congress County offices and writing letters for Congress members urging them to take bold measures against the Trump administration.
Amid a sense of urgency, some organizations also give priority to joy and fun in their actions.
“We want to make the activity fun and creative, and this could seem to be as if hosting the Drag Bingo night and raising funds for the abortion fund,” said Maggie Okev, 40 of the democratic wing in Ward, Democratic and voting activist.
In early January, after Trump won his second term, Okev participated in establishing a feminist group based in Chicago called Gems for Femmes, which is devoted to building society between women and other groups that have been recruited between the sexes while helping people take action and transfer the current administration.
For O'keefe, making this activity fun is an essential part of the gemstones of women.
“These are really difficult times for women, for marginalized societies, for the LGBTQ community, for federal workers, the list continues.” “In order to understand it sometimes, you should be fun. You must feel that it is not the Day of Resurrection every day, and you must feel that you are not alone.”
Gemmes for Femmes will sponsor its first protest on Saturday afternoon for the International Women's Day. Okev believes he will bring a feeling of joy to people.
“We will play great music … We have unbelievable speakers who will talk directly to the work they do on the ground for women, women's rights and care that confirms sex. Okev said:” I think you will see some creative signs madly. “So I think you will see more smiles than screaming, and when we cry, we do so with passion.”
Originally published: March 7, 2025 at 5:00 am CST
