The Sentinel: 06/16/25

Urbana "No Kings" rally draws thousands in peaceful protest against Trump policies

Over 3,000 people joined a peaceful protest in Urbana against Trump’s policies and rising authoritarianism. Here are 27 photos from Saturday's rally.

Protestors chant under an image of Abraham Lincoln in Urbana, IL

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Protestors shout and cheer from the corner of Broadway and Main Street in Urbana at the "No Kings" rally on Saturday. More than 3,000 people were on hand to support and express their opinion on the president's policies and his administration's inhumane immigration policies.

URBANA — More than 3,000 people gathered in downtown Urbana on Sunday for a peaceful protest against former President Donald Trump’s policies and what organizers called a growing threat of authoritarianism in the United States. Many participants said they came not just to protest Trump’s immigration policies but also to stand up for democracy, civil rights, and free speech. Organizers and attendees stressed that these issues affect everyone — and that standing together is more important than ever.

The protest, part of a national movement known as “No Kings,” was one of over 2,000 events held across the country and around the world. Similar rallies took place in large cities like New York and Chicago, and in smaller towns across Illinois, including Bloomington, Peoria, and Macomb. The event was co-sponsored by the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) of Central Illinois, Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center, 50501 Movement of Illinois and Mahomet Persisterhood.

The Urbana protest started at 4 p.m. with a packed rally outside the Champaign County Courthouse and people standing along Main Street. There were a wide variety of flags throughout the assembly, including Pride, Ukrainian, Palestinian, Mexican, and American flags. Exercising their First Amendment right, protestors carried or held up signs, many clever and a few others not so family friendly, displaying clear messages against Trump and his efforts to concentrate power in the presidency.

A woman waves the Mexican flag at the Urbana No Kings protest — A young woman wearing a crown waves the Mexican flag while standing on the median on Main St. with other protestors. The second most-popular flag behind the Stars & Stripes, flags from Ukraine and Palestine were also carried by demonstrators.

While many sought refuge from the hot sun in the cooler shade of the courthouse shadow, local leaders spoke to the crowd, including Urbana Mayor DeShawn Williams, Mica Light of the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center, and Ricardo Diaz of the Champaign-Urbana Immigration Forum. They called for unity, equal rights, and more support for immigrants and working families.

The protest was a block party with a purpose. As protestors made their way through the crowd, there was no shortage of handshakes, hugs and comforting smiles exchanged between friends and acquaintances. One thoughtful woman pulled a foldable wagon filled with bottled water, handing bottles to anyone who needed one under the hot June sun.

After about 45 minutes of speeches and chants, the crowd began an impromptu march through downtown Urbana. Volunteers in yellow vests helped guide people safely through the streets using bikes, cars, and foot patrols. The march moved along Main Street, turned onto Race Street and University Avenue, then circled back to Vine Street and returned to the courthouse. Protestors began leaving the area around 6:30 p.m.

The turnout was conservatively more than five times larger than the “Hands Off!” rally held in West Side Park this past April. Despite the large crowd, there was no visible police presence, and the event remained calm and respectful throughout.

“Somewhere around 3,000 people turned out at the courthouse as part of a larger movement rejecting authoritarianism and the president’s attempted consolidation of power into the executive branch," Jeff Dougan, an organizer for Champaign county’s chapter of Indivisible, a progressive network organizing for democracy, said. "We the people have rejected a king once before, and were uniting our voices today to say ‘not again.’ We’re so grateful for the community showing up in unity.”

Urbana sidewalks filled with anti-Trump protestors — An estimated of more than 3,000 demonstrators of all ages and backgrounds crowded the sidewalk on both sides of the street between Vine and Main Street at Saturday's rally.

Saturday marked the largest rally since the record-breaking Women’s March in 2017, when President Trump began his first term in office. Organizers with 505051 estimated that nationwide protests drew more than 5 million Americans on the day of the president’s 79th birthday. There were 51 “No Kings” protests planned across Illinois. From Rockford to Carbondale, the majority of the rallies - 26 in total - were held in cities and communities outside the Chicago metro area. Chicago hosted three separate events in different parts of the city.

Some notable examples of estimated turnout in major cities include:

Los Angeles: Over 200,000
Philadelphia: 80,000
Seattle: 70,000
Chicago: 75,000
New York City: Over 50,000

Ezra Levin, co-founder and co-executive director of the nonprofit Indivisible, another No Kings coordinator, told NPR the atmosphere at the event was joyful. "Today what I saw was a boisterous, peaceful display of First Amendment rights," he said.