Thousands of Chicago protesters condemn Trump and his visit to Chicago

Kristine Herbst, center, a Riverside resident came to the protest because she thought it was important to “show strength in numbers.” (Anne Snabes/MEDILL)

By Anne Snabes

Medill Reports

Thousands of Chicago area protesters chanted  calls and held up signs bearing phrases such as “Dump Trump” during President Donald Trump’s visit to the Windy City on Monday.

Trump spoke at the International Association of Chiefs of Police conference and then attended a lunch fundraiser at Trump International Hotel and Tower. Chicago Police Chief Eddie Johnson boycotted the speech and Trump belittled his absence.

The cheapest tickets to attend the political lunch cost $2,800. The most expensive, for a roundtable sit-down with the President, cost $100,000, according to the Chicago Tribune.

The Tribune reported that about 3,000 to 6,000 people participated in the protest on Wacker Drive. The protesters eventually wound through the Loop and back to their Wacker Drive location across from Trump Tower.

“I will never put the needs of illegal criminals before I put the needs of law-abiding citizens,” he said. Trump promised the police chiefs that he would be “their greatest and most loyal champion.”

Click on any image for a slideshow of the protest photos.

 

Photo at top: Kristine Herbst, center, a resident of Riverside, Illinois, came to the protest because she thought it was important to “show strength in numbers.”