Protesting the deportations, cost-cutting, program eliminating and other actions of President Donald Trump’s administration, the 250th anniversary of the start of the American Revolution was not lost on thousands of local protesters over the weekend.
Joyce Davis of Chicago held a sign reading, “Listen my children and you shall hear of Donald Trump and his reign of fear,” parodying Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s 1861 poem memorializing Paul Revere’s horseback ride on April 17, 1775.
Revere was riding to warn and inform members of a colonial militia near Boston of British troops coming to snuff out their nascent rebellion. Davis said she wants to encourage people to resist Trump’s executive orders, which she believes are stripping Americans of their freedom.
“Paul Revere rode to warn that the British were coming,” Davis said. “I’m here because Trump is trying to make people afraid so they will obey. We have to resist and try not to obey.
Davis was among more than 2,000 people holding signs and uttering chants protesting actions taken during Trump’s 89 days in office at a Hands Off rally Saturday along a three-block stretch of St. Johns Avenue, near downtown Highland Park.
A number of the signs made reference to what they considered the significance of Saturday. A day after Revere’s ride, members of the Massachusetts militias fought British troops at Lexington and Concord, starting the American Revolution.
As cars drove by the three-block stretch of St. Johns Avenue between Laurel Avenue and Ravine Drive, they chanted slogans and sang songs like “America the Beautiful” and “This Land is My Land, This Land is Your Land.” Motorists responded with honks of their horns.
Organized by the Lake County Democratic organization and other groups, Lake County Democratic Chair Lauren Beth Gash said demonstrations are taking place all over the county and the country. There will be more in the coming weeks.
“This is a unified effort of people against the attack on our rights,” Gash said. “We want Trump and (Elon) Musk to take their hands off our rights and our freedom. What they are doing is extreme and harmful to our country. Today is 250 years after the start of the American Revolution.”
The demonstration in Highland Park was one of 1,200 across all 50 states organized by more than 150 groups from New York to Alaska, and from Los Angeles to Portland, Oregon. It was the largest group of demonstrations since Trump was inaugurated on Jan. 20. They were also held in Chicago and Buffalo Grove.
Planned as an event for people to express their feelings on current events, there was no area for public speaking. When U.S. Rep Brad Schneider, D-Highland Park, arrived, a large crowd gathered around him and a megaphone appeared.
Some organizers suggested he speak from the steps of City Hall, but he remained near the edge of the lawn so people could hear him and continue waving their signs at passing motorists. He got the crowd chanting its support of democracy, the Constitution, due process and the country.
Schneider talked about the 250th anniversary of the ride of Paul Revere the day before, and the battles of Lexington and Concord starting the American Revolution 250 years ago Saturday. He talked about former President Thomas Jefferson writing that everyone is created equal.
“Continuing with Jefferson, he wrote about the inalienable rights of ‘life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness’ in the Declaration of Independence,” Schneider said. “Next year, we will celebrate the 250th anniversary of our country. We will fight to ensure, in the words of Dr. (Martin Luther) King, the ‘arc of the universe will bend toward justice.’”
Also invoking King’s legacy was David Houle of Highland Park. Raised on the South Side of Chicago and now in his 70s, his sign read, “Dr. M.L. King is the only king I will ever follow.” He said Trump is trying to act like a king with his executive orders. King cared about people, Houle said.
“Dr. King had the vision that inspired me,” he said. “What Trump is doing now is stamping on the tradition of America. This demonstration is the result of that.”
Keith Brin, the chair of the Lake County Republican Central Committee, is a Highland Park resident. He was not at the rally, but said Monday that such a demonstration is to be expected from a group that lost the November election.
“I’m not surprised the party that lost the election is upset at what the president is doing,” Brin said. “They didn’t vote for it then, and they don’t want it now. It shows how the Democratic Party is out of step with the rest of the country.”
Ryan Livergood and Meagan Livergood of Gurnee brought their two young children to the rally. They said it is important that their children learn to “stand up for what is right,” and appreciate the country’s values. They also mentioned the 250th anniversaries.
“We’re seeing the erosion of our democracy,” Ryan Livergood said. “The Trump administration is destroying our country and its values. We brought the kids with us because we’re fighting for their future.”
Mary Popit of Waukegan is a Catholic nun. She was at the rally with other activists who have been marching in downtown Waukegan each Wednesday since mid-March. She said it is important to show solidarity with other groups supporting the same cause.
Referring to those in power, she said, “They want the rest of the world to keep their mouths shut and obey. We’re not going to let that happen. This is the 250th anniversary of the start of our country, and we want it to continue.”
Gail Weisman of Northfield held a sign turning Trump’s name into an acronym reading “Twisted, Racist, Unqualified, Malicious, Putz.” Gov. J.B. Pritzker has used the word putz to describe the president more than once. Weisman said it is a derogatory Yiddish word. She wanted to work her “heritage” into the sign.
“I can’t sit around and do nothing anymore, knowing what will happen if we don’t,” Weisman said. “Things are getting frustrating and scary.”
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
