A group of sign-carrying people — mostly seniors — march through downtown Waukegan Wednesdays with chants of “dump Trump,” “America is already great“ “Support our veterans,” “leave education alone,” save our democracy,” “support science research” and more.
MaryFran Troha and Cass O’Keefe, both Waukegan residents, first met as members of Clean Power Lake County. They talked at a meeting of the Waukegan Historical Society in early March and felt they needed to do something about what they perceived was a threat to their country.
“We were getting angry about what was happening,” O’Keefe said. “We were concerned for our country and about all the things DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) was cutting. We felt we had to publicize it.”
O’Keefe and Troha led a group of 19 people carrying homemade signs with multiple messages Wednesday around a block bounded in downtown Waukegan, spreading their message of protest and hearing some supporting car honks.
Troha said they decided to lead a march through downtown Waukegan starting March 19. They reached out on social media and made flyers to distribute, encouraging people to meet in front of the Lake County Courthouse & Administration Building and bring a sign.
“It’s not just one issue. Last week we had 15 in the rain. We’re growing. Last week, my sign was about Ukraine.” Trona said. “This week it’s about judges,” she added, referring to a placard which read “Hands off judges. Obey the Constitution, not the ‘King’s’ spite.”
After gathering in front of the courthouse, the group began walking south on County Street holding their signs and chanting. They went west on Washington Street, headed north on Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue by City Hall, went east on Clayton Street and back to the courthouse.
Signs indicated support for American democracy, USAID, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, education, healthcare, national parks, LBGTQ rights and more. Their continuing chants gave backing to those causes and others.
“Hey, hey, ho, ho, Trump and Elon have to go,” they chanted. “Save our democracy. Restore federal funding. Hey Congress, do your job. No one is above the law.”
Sue Grisham learned of the march on social media. She said she came to Waukegan for the march because it was easier than going to downtown Chicago. Her overall concern is preserving American democracy.
“Once you lose democracy, it’s hard to get it back,” Grisham said. “Trump and Musk are ripping everything apart. This feels like Nazism. This reminds me of what happened in Germany.”
Nearly all the marchers were seniors. Troha said most of the marchers were retired and free to meet at the noon hour. They will be meeting each Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. in front of the courthouse before starting their march.
“We’re growing each week,” Troha said. “I’d like to make a contact at CLC (the College of Lake County) to reach younger people.”
Though she is retired, O’Keefe said the cuts hit close to home. Her daughter was among the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) workers put on administrative leave because of DOGE cuts. She worked on overseas food programs.
Jane Ferry was one of the marchers. She said every time she reads about something that occurs at the federal level, she becomes more concerned. Her worries for American democracy grow each day as something new is reported in the news from Washington.
“It’s making me nervous and a little crazy,” Ferry said.
