James Hoeck

^Photographer

No Kings in Chicago

Outside Trump International Hotel & Tower, advocators holding “No Kings” signs protest in front of Chicago police officers guarding the rode towards the tower on June 14, 2025.

In November of 2024, Trump was elected as the forty-seventh President of the United States.
Since then, his administration has taken action to crack down and deport immigrants within the Country without legal status amongst changes through his administration, effecting branches of government within the United States leaving many in the Country deeming his actions as president as tyrannical and that of a dictator.

On June 14, 2025, a national protest is held in opposition to President Donald Trump and his administration. Thousands gathered in Chicago, Ill. at Daley Plaza to advocate against Trump prior to their march within the city.

Demonstrators gather at Grant Park in Chicago, Ill. for the second ‘No Kings’ protest — ‘No Kings 2.0’ holding signs as well as flags of the city and country on Oct. 18, 2025.

Four months after the initial ‘No Kings’ protest across the country, a second national protest was organized to reiterate the advocacy of the first initial demonstration.
On Oct. 18, 2025, ‘No Kings 2.0’ took place across the nation and in the city of Chicago.

At noon, a crowd gathered at Grant Park for the kick off of the rally. Speakers from the community alongside the presence of government officials took to the stage to speak on the effects of the Trump administration's and Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE)’s effect on businesses and the community.

Both Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson spoke at the rally. The presence was met with loud applause from those in the audience. During Johnson’s monologue, he raised his voice at the podium, calling for a national strike which was received positively from the crowd.

Afterwards, a march across the city was set a foot. The protest was largest recorded single-day demonstration within the United States.