• 2025-10-15 03:57:47
• Gun Violence

CHICAGO —

Over 2,500 protests will be taking place in communities across the United States, as well as mass demonstrations planned in Canada and Europe. The nationwide "No Kings" demonstrations are being organized by

Southsiders for Peace will be gathering at 103rd Street and Western Avenue from 3 to 5 p.m. on Saturday. While the Beverly-based group's protests at the intersection usually draw several hundred, the first "No Kings" protest on June 14, drew more than 600 people, a large turnout for the grassroots group.

"We reject the government's moves toward dictatorship, and we stand for Peace and Justice in our communities, across our nation, and around the world! This will be a nonviolent demonstration with no planned acts of civil disobedience. Please bring signs, water, and lots of energy," Southsiders for Peace said in a statement.

South Suburban Relentless is also joining the "No Kings Call To Action" this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 147th Street and LaGrange Road in Orland Park. There is ample free parking and participants are welcome to bring chairs. The group has been hosting protests at least two Saturdays per month since March, when it staged a pair of Tesla Takedowns across the street from the Tesla dealership in Orland Park.

As with all the "No Kings" protests being held across the country, both local activist groups are urging peaceful dissent. Violence or escalation with counterprotesters or passersby in cars, will not be tolerated.

"We have had great success with our peaceful protests," the South Suburban Relentless group said in a statement, which has a list of guidelines for participants.

"You can silently hold your sign, you chant, you can sing, you can rap … But there is no engagement with counterprotesters," the statement continued. "We've worked long and hard to make our Peaceful protests a success, and you do not want to be one that destroys all of our hard work."

Organizers of both events are also asking participants also ask that signs contain no profanity or vulgarity.

"This is not censorship. This is showing that WE are not THEM. Do not be afraid of exercising your First Amendment rights to Freedom of Speech by Civil Protest will leave you feeling empowered and heard."

Chicago's "No Kings" events come in a highly charged atmosphere of ICE raids outside Home Depots, schools, factories and courthouses, with federalized National Guard troops from Texas hanging being detained from mobilizing due to a temporary court injunction. Organizers are counting on a historic turnout of at least 10 million, or, 3.5 percent of the total U.S. population. When 3.5 percent of the population of a country protest non-violently against a government, that government is likely to fall from power, formulated by political scientist Erica Chenworth in 2013.

The "No Kings" mass mobilization planned for Saturday has been characterized by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-SC) and far right news media as "Hate America" rallies. Ezra Levin, the executive co-director of Indivisible that is behind "No Kings Day" told MSNBC host Rachel Maddow that

"Let me tell you: It's gonna be fun," Levin said. "It's gonna be powerful, and it's gonna be a part of history."