Politics & Government

Watch Anti-Donald Trump Protesters March Through Downtown Chicago

VIDEO AND PHOTOS: The rally started at the president-elect's hotel Wednesday night before the crowds spread to other parts of the city.

CHICAGO, IL — Thousands of people flooded the streets and sidewalks around Republican President-elect Donald Trump's Chicago hotel Wednesday night as part of an "emergency protest" opposing the billionaire's victory over Democratic challenger Hillary Clinton. Eventually, though, the crowds began marching through the downtown area.

Police set up barricades and officers lined up in front of Trump International Hotel and Tower, 401 N. Wabash Ave., before the rally, which was set to begin at 5 p.m. But protesters got a jump on things, showing up across the street from the building about a half an hour early. They carried signs and chanted, "Shut it down!" and "No Trump, No KKK, No Fascist U.S.A.!"

After demonstrating in front of the hotel for about an hour and a half, the crowds spread to nearby streets. Online reports had protesters moving along to State and Randolph streets and 6th and Michigan avenues. Police did shut down State, the Wabash Avenue Bridge and Wacker Drive. Some people also decided to sit in the middle of the street, cheering and chanting, "Not My President!"

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Protesters eventually marched down Lake Shore Drive to Grand Avenue, stopping traffic:

Despite the event encompassing a larger area than originally planned, the protest reamined under control. A few demonstrators did climb on top of traffic signal poles and a bus shelter. One bus shelter also was vandalized with "F--k Trump" scrawled in red across a window.

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A protester climbs a traffic light pole in downtown Chicago on Wednesday, Nov. 9, during anti-Donald Trump protest. (photo by Patrick Martin)

At times, the event was more party than protest as some demonstrators brought audio equipment and began literally dancing in the streets at times. The music also defused a few tense moments between protesters and police.

The demonstration began to wind down at about 10:15 p.m., but there were still large groups of protesters on the street.

The protest was organized by ANSWER Chicago, an antiwar and anti-racism group (ANSWER stands for Act Now Stop War End Racism). Before the rally began, more than 9,000 people indicated on the demonstration's Facebook page they planned to attend the protest.

RELATED: Northwestern President Calls for Post-Election Unity, But Won't Mention Donald Trump

The page also stated the reason for the event: "We must resist this outcome! In fact, we cannot be idle. We must get into the streets immediately. We must unite and stand with immigrants, Muslims, women, LGBTQ people, poor and working people and Black Lives Matter."

This isn't the only anti-Trump protest the national group has planned. One of the group's organizers told the crowd that plans were in the works to "shut down" Washington, D.C., durng Trump's inauguration Jan. 20.

Patch's Patrick Martin interviewed one protester on her way to the event, and she explained why she was attending:

Patch also spoke with a Trump supporter who followed the crowds holding a "Peaceful Transition" sign. The individual, who also was wearing a Trump shirt, said protesters told him they wanted to drag him into the crowd and beat him up, and he accused one person of kicking him (WARNING: Video contains vulgar language):

WATCH INTERVIEWS AND COVERAGE FROM THE PROTEST: Check out Patch's footage from Wednesday's event, including on-the-scene interviews with people attending it (WARNING: Videos might contain harsh or objectionable language).

Go to the Chicago Patch Facebook page for more videos:

Check out how other people are documenting the event on social media:

Patch videos by Patrick Martin.


Protesters gather outside Donald Trump's hotel in Chicago on Wednesday, Nov. 9, less than 24 hours after the Republican candidate was elected president. (photo by Patrick Martin)

UPDATED (10:31 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9)

ORIGINAL STORY

CHICAGO, IL — People upset about Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's victory over Democratic challenger Hillary Clinton will be gathering in front of the president-elect's hotel in Chicago on Wednesday for an "emergency protest."

More than 4,000 people indicated they will be attending the rally from 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9, at Trump International Hotel and Tower, 401 N. Wabash Ave., according to the event's Facebook page. The protest is being organized by ANSWER Chicago, an antiwar and anti-racism group (ANSWER stands for Act Now Stop War End Racism).

"Donald Trump, a vile racist and sexist, has been declared the winner of the U.S. presidential election," the rally's Facebook page stated. "We must resist this outcome! In fact, we cannot be idle. We must get into the streets immediately. We must unite and stand with immigrants, Muslims, women, LGBTQ people, poor and working people and Black Lives Matter."

RELATED: Anti-Donald Trump Demonstrators Protest Outside Candidate's Chicago Hotel

Attendees are encouraged to bring signs and banners to the protest.

Last month, hundreds of protesters staged a rally — sponsored by the sex-positive group SlutTalk and called "P---y Grabs Back" — outside Trump's Chicago hotel to speak out against his vulgar, sexist remarks during a 2005 "Access Hollywood" interview that many viewed as an admission of sexual assault. A smaller group of Trump supporters also held a counter-demonstration across from the protest.

An anti-Donald Trump protest across the street of the Trump Tower on Tuesday, Oct. 18. (screen cap via James Benson | YouTube)

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