logo
Hundreds line intersection for Highland ‘No Kings' protest

Hundreds line intersection for Highland ‘No Kings' protest

Chicago Tribune14-06-2025
Indivisible NWI organizers in Highland had much to be proud about during the No Kings protest at Indianapolis Boulevard and Ridge Road Saturday afternoon.
With at least 700 people lining three of that intersection's four corners in what had to be the largest protest that area has seen in years, Highland Police, while present, were able to stay largely in the background because protestors were more interested in waving their signs than causing calamity. The group also pulled together a 10-person 'Safety Team' who went around with cold bottled water and snacks for the crowd, Indivisible NWI Organizer Kim Eldridge said.
More important than the snacks, however, were the signs Safety Team members held that said 'Stay back. Stay Safe.' They came in handy during a particularly tense moment with some passersby.
'There were some people in a car that started saying stuff, and there were some of our people who were ready to respond back,' Eldridge said. 'We got in front of them and held up the signs telling them to stay back, and then they caught themselves because we do not want to engage in any of that.'
Another Safety Team member had an even trickier situation: An older man with a gun on his hip walking through the crowd, she said. The team member went to talk to the man.
'(The team member) is a big guy, so he took it upon himself to talk to the man, and he told (the team member) he was a Trump supporter and wanted to see what we were doing,' Eldridge said. 'We're one of the totally nonviolent groups, and our guy was able to diffuse the situation and told him, 'I understand that Indiana is an Open Carry state, so that's why I'm not going to go to the police,' and the man thanked him.
'The Safety Team worked great! Now, we just have to start clearing people out so we don't overstay our welcome.'
Eldridge remembers that not so long ago, they would have a call out for a protest or rally, and if 30 people signed up, maybe 10 would show. At least for now, those days seem to be gone, as Indivisible had 500 people respond that they would be there Saturday.
'Not anymore,' she said. 'We'll have 40 people come to a meeting, and then 100 people will show up to a protest. It's been amazing.'
Jason Kirk, a former steelworker from Gary, chatted with Hammond Councilman Scott Rakos, D-6 about the goings-on. Rakos said he was out there because he wants people to know he cares a great deal about what's happening in the country.
'This president is horrible, and what upsets me the most is that there are intelligent people who I've known for years who're buying into him,' Rakos said. 'I'm out here because we need more people involved.'
'The last five months feel like it's been five years,' Kirk added. 'Being a union member, once you get a momentum going, the group follows. When people get mad enough, they'll start coming out; let's just hope it's not too late by then.'
The Rev. Mark Kurowski, who founded The Church of St. Raphael the Archangel Catholic Apostolic Church in Hammond, ran tirelessly around the crowd with a megaphone. For him, protesting is fighting for the country's very soul.
'I've been worried about us getting taken over by Christian Nationalists since Reagan,' Kurowski said. 'Trump claimed to be a Christian, but I don't see a servant in Trump, someone who would sacrifice themselves for the good of the people, so I have a responsibility to call him out.
'We ought not ever cozy up to power and money.'
While some people brought levity by serenading the crowd with music, one couple brought along a pinata made in Trump's likeness. The man — who asked that his and his wife's names not be used for fear of retaliation — said he got it in a Chicago Mexican candy store that was selling pinatas of the president and ICE agents.
'I'm the son of an immigrant who worked on a farm, and I wouldn't be here if it weren't for her sacrifices,' the man said. 'We're a land of immigrants, and she came here for a better life.'
His wife looked over at a group of three Hispanic Trump supporters traipsing through the crowd and shook her head.
'I don't understand these people,' she said of the group. 'My parents are first-generation Mexican, and they're Trump supporters, but they were lucky they were able to become citizens. These people get everything they want and then turn their backs on everyone else.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Nationwide 'Rage Against the Regime' Protest Planned for August 2
Nationwide 'Rage Against the Regime' Protest Planned for August 2

Newsweek

timea day ago

  • Newsweek

Nationwide 'Rage Against the Regime' Protest Planned for August 2

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Thousands of people are mobilizing for a National Day of Action against President Donald Trump and his administration, with hundreds of planned "Rage Against the Regime" protests scheduled for the first weekend in August. Newsweek has reached out to the protest organizers, 50501, for comment via email on Saturday. Why It Matters Since Trump returned to office in January, there have been thousands of protests nationwide—including "Hands Off" demonstrations, "No Kings" protests and various "Tesla Takedown" events targeting his then-close adviser Elon Musk. Many of the protests have been organized by the group "50 Protests, 50 States, One Movement," also known as 50501. The protests often take aim at Trump's sweeping immigration policies, leadership style, and perceived attacks on democratic institutions and civil liberties. The Trump administration and its supporters say their policies represent necessary reforms aimed at strengthening national security, enforcing immigration laws and advance core aspects of a Republican agenda. What To Know As of Saturday, 260 anti-Trump protests are planned across the country for August 2. Many are using fliers from templates provided by organizers that include explicit words against Trump and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). In a Friday Reddit post, 50501 wrote: "We're fed up with the corruption, the cruelty, the erosion of rights," and is seeking people to come together in a peaceful manner to exercise their First Amendment rights. At least one protest in most states is scheduled. On June 14, thousands of people mobilized for the nationwide "No Kings" protests, which were held in every state and coincided with the president's birthday. In Salt Lake City, one protester, Arthur Folasa Ah Loo, 39, was shot and later died at the hospital. This summer in Los Angeles, protesters clashed with police and National Guard members during anti‑immigration demonstrations, with some demonstrators throwing objects at officers and authorities responding with tear gas and rubber bullets. People take part in a Stop Trump Scotland protest outside the US Consulate in Edinburgh, as US President Donald Trump begins his five-day private trip to the country at his Turnberry golf course in South... People take part in a Stop Trump Scotland protest outside the US Consulate in Edinburgh, as US President Donald Trump begins his five-day private trip to the country at his Turnberry golf course in South Ayrshire on July 26. More Press Association via AP Images Who Is Organizing the 'Rage Against the Regime' Protest? 50501 is organizing the August 2 protests and are calling upon people to "come together to transform anger into action, harnessing the energy of collective resistance." The group maintains that "our movement is rooted in non-violence, but it is far from passive. We stand strong, bold, and unyielding." The group is holding a virtual call for organizers on July 26 at 1 p.m. ET in preparation for the coming protests. What People Are Saying The Center for American Progress, a think tank, wrote in an X, formerly Twitter, post on Saturday: "If just 3.5% of Americans—12 million people—mobilize to peacefully protest the authoritarian actions of the Trump administration, it would be virtually impossible for the government to ignore their demands." Representative Ted Lieu, California Democrat, wrote Friday on X: "Continue to exercise your rights to free speech, to protest, to get involved. It all matters." What Happens Next? Europeans are also protesting Trump, with hundreds turning out at demonstrations on Saturday across Scotland where the president is on a five-day visit.

Latino journalist detained by ICE says he's been 'emotionally destroyed'
Latino journalist detained by ICE says he's been 'emotionally destroyed'

Yahoo

time5 days ago

  • Yahoo

Latino journalist detained by ICE says he's been 'emotionally destroyed'

Journalist Mario Guevara from El Salvador is speaking out about being detained in an Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing center in southern Georgia. Guevera, who left his homeland over 20 years ago and founded the Spanish-language news outlet MG News, was detained by ICE agents as he was reporting on a 'No Kings' protest on June 14 in the Atlanta area. The 47-year-old reporter's arrest was captured on video because he was live-streaming his news report as the incident occurred. "I'm plainly convinced that my situation in this ICE jail is direct retaliation for my coverage,' Guevara recently told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 'I haven't committed any crimes." After spending a month in ICE custody, Guevara has described himself as being "emotionally destroyed" by his ongoing detention. He believes that he is being made an example of by the government to dissuade people from monitoring ICE activities. "[T]hey want to send a message that people can't be following ICE operatives or expose what's happening," he claimed. On June 24, the Department of Homeland Security posted on X about Guevara's situation. Read more: Journalist Mario Guevara is still in ICE detention despite being granted bond 'Mario Guevara, a Salvadoran national, is in ICE custody because he is in our country ILLEGALLY. Guevara was arrested by Dekalb County, Georgia police for willful OBSTRUCTION after he REFUSED to comply with local police orders to move out of the middle of the street,' the post claimed. 'Following his arrest by local authorities, ICE placed a detainer on him. Following his release, he was turned over to ICE custody and has been placed in removal proceedings.' Regarding Guevara's residence status, his lawyer has noted that Guevara has a work permit and has a pathway to citizenship through the sponsorship of his adult son, who is a U.S. citizen. Guevara has claimed that he is only allowed to be outside of his cell for two hours a day and that he was extorted by a fellow inmate, though ICE has not confirmed his claims. 'Everyone here knows me. One person even told me that I recorded his arrest. Imagine that," Guevara said of his notoriety among his fellow inmates. According to the journalist, his online followers have expressed that his coverage of the ongoing ICE raids is sorely missed. "People are realizing that they have to be informed when there are raids happening on a daily basis," he said. "It fills me with joy to know that my work had an impact. But I'm paying for that with my freedom. It's a high price." Despite the joy he gets from informing his community about the latest news, Guevara plans on putting his reporting on hold if he were to be released from detention, due to his immigration status. "I can't put myself at risk," he said. "Unless I become a U.S. citizen, my coverage will have to change." Read more: Periodista hispano que documenta redadas migratorias en EEUU podría ser deportado tras ser detenido Guevara — who self-identified as being more ideologically aligned with the Republican party, in part because of his Christian values — said his detention has made him reconsider his political alignment. 'I was confident that Trump was a smart man who could help in terms of the economy of the country, and that he could help give a boost to moral values in the U.S.," Guevara acknowledged. "[B]ut when he got into power, I realized that his ideology was completely different. It was simply persecution, persecution, persecution.' He advised Latinos in the U.S. with the ability to vote to reconsider giving support to a man who continually acts "against our community." Guevara also expressed regrets about how he has prioritized work over family throughout his career. "That may have been the biggest mistake of my life, because now I'm realizing that work is not more important than family. But I am no criminal," he said. "My family needs me. I'm going to fight until the end." In a previous statement released from detention, Guevara said that being in ICE custody for a month has left him unable to support his family, including his son who has a special condition that leaves him in need of constant care and attention. Get our Latinx Files newsletter for stories that capture the complexity of our communities. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Solve the daily Crossword

Latino journalist detained by ICE says he's been ‘emotionally destroyed'
Latino journalist detained by ICE says he's been ‘emotionally destroyed'

Los Angeles Times

time6 days ago

  • Los Angeles Times

Latino journalist detained by ICE says he's been ‘emotionally destroyed'

Journalist Mario Guevara from El Salvador is speaking out about being detained in an Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing center in southern Georgia. Guevera, who left his homeland over 20 years ago and founded the Spanish-language news outlet MG News, was detained by ICE agents as he was reporting on a 'No Kings' protest on June 14 in the Atlanta area. The 47-year-old reporter's arrest was captured on video because he was live-streaming his news report as the incident occurred. 'I'm plainly convinced that my situation in this ICE jail is direct retaliation for my coverage,' Guevara recently told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 'I haven't committed any crimes.' After spending a month in ICE custody, Guevara has described himself as being 'emotionally destroyed' by his continuing detention. He believes that he is being made an example of by the government to dissuade people from monitoring ICE activities. '[T]hey want to send a message that people can't be following ICE operatives or expose what's happening,' he claimed. On June 24, the Department of Homeland Security posted on X about Guevara's situation. 'Mario Guevara, a Salvadoran national, is in ICE custody because he is in our country ILLEGALLY. Guevara was arrested by Dekalb County, Georgia police for willful OBSTRUCTION after he REFUSED to comply with local police orders to move out of the middle of the street,' the post claimed. 'Following his arrest by local authorities, ICE placed a detainer on him. Following his release, he was turned over to ICE custody and has been placed in removal proceedings.' Regarding Guevara's residence status, his lawyer has noted that Guevara has a work permit and has a pathway to citizenship through the sponsorship of his adult son, who is a U.S. citizen. Guevara has claimed that he is only allowed to be outside of his cell for two hours a day and that he was extorted by a fellow inmate, though ICE has not confirmed his claims. 'Everyone here knows me. One person even told me that I recorded his arrest. Imagine that,' Guevara said of his notoriety among his fellow inmates. According to the journalist, his online followers have expressed that his coverage of the ongoing ICE raids is sorely missed. 'People are realizing that they have to be informed when there are raids happening on a daily basis,' he said. 'It fills me with joy to know that my work had an impact. But I'm paying for that with my freedom. It's a high price.' Despite the joy he gets from informing his community about the latest news, Guevara plans on putting his reporting on hold if he were to be released from detention, due to his immigration status. 'I can't put myself at risk,' he said. 'Unless I become a U.S. citizen, my coverage will have to change.' Guevara — who self-identified as being more ideologically aligned with the Republican party, in part because of his Christian values — said his detention has made him reconsider his political alignment. 'I was confident that Trump was a smart man who could help in terms of the economy of the country, and that he could help give a boost to moral values in the U.S.,' Guevara acknowledged. '[B]ut when he got into power, I realized that his ideology was completely different. It was simply persecution, persecution, persecution.' He advised Latinos in the U.S. with the ability to vote to reconsider giving support to a man who continually acts 'against our community.' Guevara also expressed regrets about how he has prioritized work over family throughout his career. 'That may have been the biggest mistake of my life, because now I'm realizing that work is not more important than family. But I am no criminal,' he said. 'My family needs me. I'm going to fight until the end.' In a previous statement released from detention, Guevara said that being in ICE custody for a month has left him unable to support his family, including his son who has a special condition that leaves him in need of constant care and attention.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store