Chicago abortion, LGBTQ+ activists plan to demand action with march on day prior to DNC

CHICAGO - Abortion rights and LGBTQ+ activists are teaming up to protest the Democratic National Convention coming to Chicago this summer.

The activists applied for a permit on Tuesday morning to hold a march Aug. 18, the day before the convention kicks off at Jane M. Byrne Plaza, previously known as Water Tower Park. 

The coalition includes groups like Chicago for Abortion Rights, Stop Trans Genocide, Gay Liberation Network, Reproductive Transparency Now! and more.

"We are tired of politicians using our slogans as talking points and then failing to deliver," said Linda Loew, co-founder of Chicago For Abortion Rights, during a news conference Tuesday at City Hall. "No delegate will arrive in, or leave, Chicago without hearing our voice and knowing that we are serious about fighting for our rights and winning them."

The groups say, for years, Democrats have taken voters who care about reproductive and LGBTQ+ rights for granted.

The activists say every time Democrats had majorities in both the House and the Senate, they squandered the chance to secure abortion and LGBTQ+ rights nationally.

"The problem with the Democrats … is that they promise a lot and then deliver very little," said Andy Thayer, co-founder of the Gay Liberation Network. "Democrats have used our issues to gain electoral advantage and then given us the bare minimum."

The DNC is scheduled for Monday, August 19 through Thursday, August 22.

The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.