CHICAGO (WLS) — Demonstrators rallied in Chicago and across Illinois Saturday as part of a nationwide day of action.
They spoke out in coordinated actions across the country against the federal cuts to healthcare and other services under President Donald Trump’s administration.
In Illinois, people also gathered in Rockford, Champaign and Carbondale.
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Marching through the streets of West Loop, hundreds unified in their opposition to cuts by the Trump administration. The group started at Union Park.
“We know that when we standing united we can overcome any challenge that we face,” Illinois 5th District State Senator Lakesia Collins said.
Toni Frazier is a family child care specialist and a grandmother. She said cuts to services for her granddaughter and other children on the autism spectrum have been detrimental.
“I’ve seen the growth in her and those who are being pushed back and can’t get the services they need, it’s sad,” Frazier said.
Paula Hickman works full time as a teacher, but she said benefits to help her and her kids make ends meet have been reduced and slow to come.
“It’s overwhelming. I feel defeated,” Hickman said. “It’s hard for me to look my kids in the face and say, ‘Mommy doesn’t have it this month.'”
The Trump administration and its so-called Department of Government Efficiency had promised to make the government more lean and save taxpayers money. Some have been critical of those efforts saying the cuts have been made without fully considering the impact of Americans.
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Many who attended Saturday’s protest are members of SEIU.
“These reckless actions hurt us so much, and they take away years of hard, hard work that our members do,” SEIU Local 73 president Dian Palmer said.
The march ended in Fulton Market, where organizers said some executives who benefit from the DOGE cuts have offices.
“Healthcare is a right, and it’s tied to every part of our lives,” said solidarity Cate Readling with The People’s Lobby. “Means we must provide, continue to uphold protections for our people.”
Organizers and participants hope their voices, and other across Illinois and the country, are heard in Washington, D.C.
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