Hundreds Will Rally Downtown On Sunday Against White Supremacy & 'Neo-Fascists'
By Stephen Gossett in News on Aug 25, 2017 8:40PM
Photo: Tyler LaRiviere
As far-right activists are slated to rally in San Francisco and Berkeley this weekend (watch your step!), counterdemonstrations will be held around the country—including a potentially large-scale one in Chicago, on Sunday.
A coalition of more than 40 community and activist organizations is gathering for the rally in Chicago, and more than 800 people say they'll attend as of Friday afternoon. Protesters will gather at Federal Plaza (Adams and Dearborn) at 2 p.m. then march to streets across from Trump Tower, at Wabash and Wacker Avenues.
Organizers highlighted the controversial responses of President Donald Trump and Gov. Bruce Rauner to the tragedy in Virginia two weeks ago, claiming they are symptomatic of policies that hurt the poor and people of color.
“While many are prompted to protest the egregious responses of Trump, Rauner and others to the fascist hate and violence in Charlottesville, we also recognize that this hate has deep institutional roots in our country, and many of the policies pursued by politicians of both parties reinforce, rather than diminish it,” said Jaquie Algree, of SEIU Healthcare Illinois & Indiana, in a release.
“Depriving schools serving primarily Black and Brown youth of the music, art, sports and other programs enjoyed by wealthier, whiter students, closing public mental health clinics, slashing social services relied on by women and people of color, attacking unions, deporting millions of immigrants—all these are policies that reinforce the racism and other hate highlighted in Charlottesville," she added.
The organizer behind Saturday's Patriot Prayer rally in San Francisco has repeatedly denied that he is a white supremacist and denies that his rallies are pretexts for racists to join. But his past events have regularly attracted white nationalists and white supremacists, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center.
Activist Andy Thayer said in a release that Chicago has proven particularly adept at resisting organized efforts of bigotry. "On Aug. 27, Chicagoans will gather once again to tell white supremacists and anyone else with the intent to harm, that they are not welcome in Chicago," he said.