Chicago protesters gather outside Trump Tower to voice their opposition
FOX 32 NEWS - Protesters in Chicago were trying to make it clear that they don't want President-elect Donald Trump in Chicago.
More than one hundred protesters stood outside across from Trump Tower Thursday night, despite the President-elect not being in town. The group says they will continue to do this if he decides to stop in Chicago on while he is visiting neighboring states.
"We really think that even the threat of Donald Trump coming to Chicago means that we have to hit the streets,” said John Beacham of Answer Coalition of Chicago.
When reports of President-elect Donald Trump's possible stay in his hotel surfaced, activists mobilized. Then they found out he wasn't coming, but they showed up anyway.
"We're not going to allow someone who is making the immigrant community, the Muslim community, women, people of color, LGBTQ people feel so threatened. We're not going to let that happen without a response from the people,” Beacham said.
At one point, the group marched around the tower, chanting how they want to be inclusive, which is something they say the President-elect is not.
"It's not so much maybe his political things that he stands for, but I think it's more of the hateful rhetoric that he and people that support him have followed,” protester Sharareh Drury said.
Trump’s critics, including many of the Chicago activists and protesters, say they will be back if he decides to roll into town.
Those who question the protesters wonder why they still keep taking to the streets.
"I think that all races, all religious beliefs here are gathered at these events because we're not happy with how the election results were. I also think that we just don't believe that Donald Trump is going to be helpful for our country to move us forward the way we would like to see it move forward,” Drury said.
Many of the people who were out protesting in Chicago Thursday night also plan to make the trip to the inauguration for an even bigger protest. They say they will continue to voice their opposition to policies that they say make certain groups fearful.