'Hands Across Chicagoland' rally: 30-mile protest against President Donald Trump policies links Aurora to Chicago on Ogden Avenue
Share and Follow

LA GRANGE, Ill. (WLS) — People protested new policies from President Donald Trump on Sunday in a rally called “Hands Across Chicagoland.”

The protestors lined streets while wearing black.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

From the Chicago to Aurora and everywhere in between, the protest was billed as a 30-mile long human chain that began in Aurora and ended in Chicago’s Little Village. While the turnout may have fallen short of the tens of thousands of protestors organizers were predicting, it was still significant.

“It’s going to take everyone all the time to make a difference,” protestor Teri Lee Nordstedt said.

People, hundreds, maybe even thousands, lined Ogden Avenue, starting in Chicago and going through Cicero, Brookfield, La Grange, Lisle, Naperville and all the way to Aurora, to make their voices heard, speaking up against the Trump administration’s policies across the board.

“We have to stand up and say that’s enough. Hands off. Hands off Medicaid. Hands off Medicare. Hands off SNAP,” said Bill Mengebier with Indivisible Chicago.

The protest was put together by a coalition of democratic organizations across the city and suburbs, calling for people to come out and hold hands across Chicagoland. Tens of thousands confirmed in advance. The end number likely much smaller, but substantial nonetheless.

“When they start honking you feel like you’re not alone,” protestor Eunice Marriott said. “A lot of us are in our homes shaking our heads, scratching our heads, saying what can we do, doesn’t anybody see what’s happening and here we have that there are more of us.”

READ MORE | Rallies downtown Chicago continue efforts to unite against Trump administration policies

“Every act of courage matters. And we are out here in our act of courage, no matter how small to make sure our voice matters,” protestor Rick Lunt said.

The protest also brought out some of the democrats already running to replace retiring Senator Dick Durbin in 2026, including Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton and Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi.

“Donald Trump made all these promises about what he was going to accomplish. He has not done any of it,” Stratton said.

“When they come for democracy, Chicago doesn’t whisper it roars. And that’s what today is about,” Krishnamoorthi said.

There was a small counter-protest as well, with a caravan composed of Trump supporters driving along the rout but mostly avoiding direct interaction with protesters

Copyright © 2025 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Jacksonville protest against Camp Blanding detention facility

Protest in Jacksonville against the Camp Blanding detention center

Advocates in Northeast Florida are protesting Gov. DeSantis’s plan to turn Camp…
Texas flooding: FEMA removed dozens of Camp Mystic buildings from 100-year flood map before expansion, records show

FEMA removed many Camp Mystic buildings from flood map before expansion, records reveal

KERR COUNTY, Texas — Federal regulators repeatedly granted appeals to remove Camp…
San Diego renters turn to 'speed roommating' as rent increases

Renters in San Diego seeking “speed roommating” due to rising rent costs

SAN DIEGO (KUSI) Since last year, rent rates increased by 4.1% in…
Brewers rookie Jacob Misiorowski makes All-Star game in MLB controversy

Controversy surrounds MLB All-Star selection of Brewers newbie Jacob Misiorowski

Jacob Misiorowski may not even had time for the proverbial cup of…
Colorado dentist accused of poisoning his wife's protein shakes going on trial for murder

Trial Beginning for Colorado Dentist Accused of Poisoning His Wife’s Protein Shakes

DENVER (AP) — Just days before she died after suffering symptoms that…
Why Yankees PA announcer is missing first home game in 16 years

The Yankees’ PA announcer misses his first home game in 16 years – Here’s why

The Yankees games will sound a little different this weekend. Paul Olden…
Bella Thorne claims Charlie Puth turned on her for refusing to sleep with him

Bella Thorne says Charlie Puth got upset with her after she declined to have sex with him

Bella Thorne claims Charlie Puth publicly lied about their relationship because she…
Food banks say SNAP cuts will harm Illinois families, economy

SNAP reductions anticipated to negatively impact Illinois families and economy, warn food banks

CHICAGO (WGN) Hundreds of thousands of Illinoisans are bracing for cuts to…