Chicago Labor Day protest opposes Trump policies, ICE operations

Source: CBS News

Updated on: September 1, 2025 / 5:46 PM CDT


A coalition of organizers, union members and elected officials gathered Monday for a Chicago Labor Day march and rally opposing the Trump administration and escalated immigration enforcement operations. The "Workers Over Billionaires" protest kicked off near the Haymarket Memorial in the West Loop.

The protest's original purpose was to stand united against President Trump's cuts to funding and programs, and attacks on immigrants and minority communities. But the recent threats made by President Trump to deploy the National Guard to Chicago, and plans confirmed by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to escalate immigration enforcement in the city, made the message bigger.

"No federal troops in the city of Chicago!" Mayor Brandon Johnson declared at the rally. Johnson's message to the administration was loud and clear. "No militarized forces. We're going to defend our democracy in the City of Chicago," he said.

"In times like this, coming together on Labor Day takes extra importance. The movement for worker rights, racial justice and immigrant rights has to keep moving forward in the face of Trump's overreach," said Veronica Castro, deputy director of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. "While Trump tries to instill fear, our movements will continue to push back as we've been doing on Labor Day and beyond."

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/chicago-labor-day-rally-march-trump-ice/