Free America Walkout protests planned for Champaign and Urbana on January 20

Local organizers are planning simultaneous Free America Walkout events in Champaign and Urbana, aligned with a national Women’s March action.

Protesters march through downtown Chicago in 2017 Women's March

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Protesters march through the streets of downtown Chicago during the 2017 Women's March on Chicago on a beautiful day on January 21. An estimated 250,000 people took to the streets on the day after of Donald Trump's first inauguration. This event was part of a global Women's March movement, making it one of the largest single-day protests in U.S. history at the time. The Women's March is organizing a national walkout for later this month.

CHAMPAIGN-URBANA - Two protests organized under the banner of the “Free America Walkout” are scheduled to take place simultaneously in Champaign and Urbana on January 20, part of a nationwide day of action promoted by Women’s March.

The Free America Walkout calls on participants to leave work, school, and commerce at 2 p.m. local time to demonstrate support for what organizers describe as American democratic values. According to the Women’s March website, a total of 903 protests are planned nationwide during the walkout.

In Champaign-Urbana, organizers have planned two separate but concurrent events, one in Champaign near Parkland College and another on the University of Illinois campus in Urbana. Similar events are also planned in other Illinois cities. Joliet, Peoria, Springfield, Ottawa, and Chicago have organized walkouts scheduled at the same time.

The Champaign walkout will begin at 2 p.m. at the parking lot of the Dodds Softball Complex, located south of Parkland Way. Participants are asked to gather at the lot and, around 2:20 p.m., begin walking toward Mattis Avenue along Parkland Way. Organizers say participants may choose to remain at the corner of Mattis Avenue and Parkland Way to wave signs and chant or walk back toward Perimeter Road with the group. The event is expected to conclude around 3 p.m.

Organizers note there are no sidewalks along portions of the route, but say it is walkable. Public Safety has been informed of the event and has asked participants to respect roadways and the flow of traffic. Those unable to walk the route are encouraged to participate by remaining in the parking lot, forming a caravan, or sitting along Parkland Way and joining in as the group passes.

Signs, musical instruments, and chanting are encouraged but not required, and chanting sheets will be available. Participants are asked to dress appropriately for the weather and use caution along roadways. Organizers emphasize that a core principle of the event is a commitment to nonviolent action and de-escalation. Weapons of any kind, including legally permitted ones, are not to be brought to the event.

At the same time, a second Free America Walkout will take place on the University of Illinois campus. The campus protest is scheduled to gather at 2 p.m. on the Main Quad, located at 607 South Mathews Avenue in Urbana.

Organizers of the campus event describe the walkout as a response to what they characterize as an escalating threat to communities one year into President Donald Trump’s second term. In statements provided by organizers, they reference raids, military presence in cities, immigration enforcement, mass surveillance, and other actions as reasons for the protest. They describe the walkout as both a protest and a promise, calling on participants to turn away from what they label fascism and disrupt “the normal routines of power.”

The Women’s March website echoes similar language, stating that participants nationwide are being asked to withhold labor, participation, and consent during the walkout. “A free America begins the moment we refuse to cooperate,” the organization states, describing the event as a coordinated national action occurring at the same time across hundreds of locations.

Both Champaign-Urbana events are scheduled for January 20 at 2 p.m., aligning with the broader national effort. Organizers for both protests emphasize participation, collective expression, and adherence to nonviolent principles as central to the day’s activities.

For additional information about the Parkland College-area protest, organizers list Katie Schacht as a contact at schachtkl@gmail.com. For more information on the campus protest, use the contact link found on the page.

TAGS: Free America Walkout Champaign Urbana January 20, Champaign protest near Parkland College, UIUC Free America Walkout Main Quad, Women’s March Free America Walkout Illinois, January 20 protests Champaign Urbana, Parkland Way protest Champaign, University of Illinois campus walkout, nationwide Women’s March protests Illinois

Cold and Bold – March for America planned for Jan. 18 at West Side Park

The Cold and Bold – March for America is scheduled to take place around West Side Park in Champaign. The one-day demonstration is expected to be brief.

CHAMPAIGN — Champaign-Urbana Resistance Effort (CURE) will hold a demonstration titled “Cold and Bold – March for America” on Sunday, Jan. 18, at 2 p.m. around West Side Park in Champaign.

Organizers have scheduled the event to last approximately 30 minutes due to anticipated winter weather conditions. Forecasts call for a high temperature of about 19 degrees.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

A Hands-Off rally was held near downtown Champaign last spring. Protesters will be back at Westside Park another rally expected to last about 30-minute to protest the latest Trump Administration policies.

The march is planned during the first year of President Donald Trump’s second term. During that period, the administration has undertaken a series of actions that have prompted national attention and legal challenges, including the acceptance of a new Air Force One from Qatar, the imposition of tariffs that have slowed U.S. economic growth, and the approval of advanced artificial intelligence chip sales to China.

Several administration actions have also been addressed in federal court. In December 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in *Trump v. Illinois* that the president did not have authority to federalize the Illinois National Guard. Following that decision, efforts to federalize the California National Guard were withdrawn. A federal judge also blocked an attempt to remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, with that case scheduled for review by the Supreme Court in January 2026.

Additional court rulings have required the administration to restore clean energy funding in certain states, reinstate equal pay data collection requirements, resume funding for the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program, and overturn a rule related to healthcare workers’ refusal of care. Earlier this week, a federal court ordered the restoration of nearly $12 million in pediatric health funding to the American Academy of Pediatrics while litigation continues.

The demonstration is scheduled to take place regardless of cold weather conditions.

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Nationwide 'No Kings' Movement Gears Up for Flag Day Protests

The 50501 Movement is organizing a nationwide "No Kings" day of action on June 14—Flag Day—to protest authoritarianism and assert that real power lies with the people, not in military displays.

URBANA - As Flag Day approaches on June 14th, the 50501 Movement is poised for a nationwide show of defiance against what they perceive as authoritarianism in America. Dubbed the "No Kings" day of action, events are scheduled in 49 states, with notable absences, including Nebraska.

The movement, known for its advocacy of nonviolence and grassroots mobilization, contrasts its vision with what they describe as Donald Trump's planned display of military might in Washington, D.C. Instead, they emphasize the power of community-driven action across the country, from bustling downtown Chicago to the quieter corners of small-town Illinois.

Downstate Illinois will host multiple rallies, including gatherings in Kankakee, Urbana, Macomb, Carbondale, and Charleston, with the largest event planned for Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago, starting at noon.

In Champaign-Urbana, activists will convene at Meadowbrook Park in Urbana from 10am to 2pm for a local "No Kings" rally, highlighting the movement's commitment to grassroots democracy and peaceful protest.

The National Day of Action follows a spirited May 1st celebration where the 50501 Movement joined over 1,100 protests nationwide in solidarity with unions and immigrant rights groups. Reflecting on their mission, Kat Duesterhaus, 50501's Communications Lead, stated, "We're building a massive resistance to the Trump Regime. 50501 isn’t just a hashtag; it’s a people-powered movement."

Hunter Dunn, National Press Coordinator for 50501, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the movement's stance against perceived attacks on democracy. "When the Trump administration attacks one of us, it is an attack on us all."

For more information on the "No Kings" movement and its upcoming events, visit FiftyFifty.one.

Supporters of higher education rally for students' rights on two campuses last week

People need to "reach out to their elected officials to oppose executive orders threatening constitutional rights and the well-being of international community members and the university."

by Judith Ruiz-Branch
Illinois News Connection

CHICAGO -It has been a busy week for supporters of higher education in Illinois, with two separate protests at Northern Illinois University and Northeastern Illinois University.

More than 100 students and faculty members rallied Tuesday at Chicago's Northeastern Illinois campus in support of the Adequate and Equitable Public University Funding Act. Students spoke about the importance of higher-ed funding, particularly for diverse campuses serving many low-income and first-generation students.

Brandon Bisbey, assistant professor of Spanish at Northeastern Illinois, said the bill would help to address the university's underfunding challenges. He pointed out state appropriations cover about 30% of their budget.

"It costs more money to serve students whose social identities have these different aspects that affect their experience," Bisbey pointed out. "This is something that we struggle with at Northeastern, because we just do not have the resources to give all the students all the resources that they need."

He noted the school has been forced to continue to increase tuition to keep up with the disinvestment in higher education, and said fair funding is even more critical in light of the Trump administration's attacks on university funding and academic freedom.

On Wednesday, Rep. Lauren Underwood, D-Ill., joined nearly 250 demonstrators on Northern Illinois' DeKalb campus. They rallied against the Trump administration's decision to revoke visas of at least five of the school's international students.

Mark Van Wienen, professor of English at Northern Illinois, said international students, faculty and staff received legal advice not to attend the rally due to potential threats from Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He observed it all speaks to the idea freedoms of assembly and speech should in some way be curbed in the U.S.

"That there should be a line drawn between international colleagues and international students, who are here as our invited guests, brings just sadness and a sense of determination," Van Wienen emphasized. "This is not what the United States is fundamentally about."

Van Wienen, along with organizers, encouraged the demonstrators to reach out to their elected officials to oppose executive orders threatening constitutional rights and the well-being of international community members and the university.

"We need to stand up now in support of them and we need to stand up now for the support of our rights," Van Wienen urged. "Because if we don't now, and we don't continuously, those rights are at grave risk."

Other interesting articles:

Commentary |
“Hands Off” rallies across the nation were patriotism in action

We saw fellow Americans join in support to defend what’s best about our country at these rallies.

by Peter Montgomery
OtherWords

Millions of Americans in more than 1,200 cities and towns gathered with friends and neighbors on April 5 in a beautiful, energetic, nonviolent, and urgently needed expression of patriotism.

The Hands Off! protest drew well over 1,000 residents to the Champaign, IL, rally at Westside Park on April 5.

We used our freedom of speech to send urgent messages to our political leaders: Respect the rule of law and constitutional checks and balances. And stop sacrificing Americans’ well-being by gutting the government’s ability to protect workers, consumers, communities, and the environment.

The gatherings were also a call to our fellow Americans to defend what’s best about our country, and to resist the destructive policies of President Donald Trump and his chainsaw-wielding billionaire buddy Elon Musk.

In our politically divided times, we often think simplistically about “red” and “blue” states. We talk as if our differences mean we don’t have anything important in common. It’s not true. People turned out from Alabama to Alaska, Tennessee to Texas, and Missouri to Montana.

Liberals and conservatives and everyone in between can find common ground in the idea that the Constitution should protect all of us. That we all benefit from clean air and water, scientific research, and basic public health capabilities.

Whatever our political leanings, we should fear and resist the idea that the government can rob people of their rights and freedom and make them disappear into foreign prisons without any way to prove their innocence. We should fear and resist government purging history from websites, books from libraries, and ideas that break with “official” ideology from museums and classrooms.

Many people have been dismayed to see powerful institutions like law firms, universities, and media companies give in to bullying from the president. We get discouraged by repeated failures of courage from elected officials who have sworn to uphold the Constitution.

But despair doesn’t get us anywhere. Action does. That’s why the April 5 gatherings were so important. People braved wind and rain, overcame their own hesitations and fears, and expressed their concerns and hopes for our future on creative, angry, funny, and inspiring signs.

Being together was a reminder that there is power in numbers. Courage can be contagious. Momentum is building.

Protests aren’t the only way Americans are fighting for what they love about this country.

Nonprofit legal groups have filed dozens of legal challenges to defend our rights and stop lawbreaking by the Trump administration. State attorneys general are doing the same. More than 500 law firms have risked retaliation from the president by signing a legal brief opposing the ways he’s abusing power to intimidate and punish lawyers for the work they do.

Senator Cory Booker recently inspired millions of Americans by speaking on the Senate floor for more than 25 hours about the ways people are being hurt by the actions of this administration. “It’s not left or right,” he said, “It’s right or wrong.”

Booker broke a record held by the late Senator Strom Thurmond, who made his place in history by blocking civil rights legislation. So it was appropriate that Booker quoted the late civil rights leader Rep. John Lewis — who, Booker recalled, “said for us to go out and cause some good trouble, necessary trouble, to redeem the soul of our nation.”

Congratulations to everyone who turned out on April 5 to create “good trouble.” Prepare to do it again and again — and invite family, friends, and neighbors to join.

Defending democracy is not one-and-done. America was founded by people who rejected being subject to the whims of a king. In our time, if we are going to preserve and strengthen government by “we, the people,” we are the people to do it.

Peter Montgomery is a Senior Fellow at People for the American Way. This op-ed was distributed by OtherWords.org.

"50 States, 1 Movement": 50501 Encourages community action for next protest

Protesters at Champaign's *Hands Off!* rally line University Avenue in Champaign. Over a thousand people were at Westside Park on a chilly April 5 for two hours, joining more than an estimated 1 million protesters nationwide.

URBANA - The 50501 group, using the slogan "50 protests. 50 states. 1 movement," is gearing up for its next event. The grassroots organization that coordinated 1,400 protests worldwide on April 5, is calling for a "Day of Action" on April 19.

While individual chapters/states can organize protests, 50501 said on its website, "We just aren't doing a big national push since many states need more time to plan and coordinate. We need to think a bit more long term and practical."

Activists nationwide had hoped for another rally similar to April 5 from the organization. The group thinks Americans affected by the Trump administration's tariffs and job cuts can be better served Easter weekend by performing acts of kindness and service.

"You don't have to reinvent the wheel, if there's an organization locally that has been doing the good work ... ask how you can help!"

Four things they suggest include:

Donating to a local organization that feeds/clothes/helps local people, especially underserved areas.
Hosting a picnic where everyone brings a few items that are in good condition to swap out for something they might need from someone else.
Doing a clothing drive during a park day or community cookout.
Meeting up at the library to discuss different actions or start a book club.

Champaign-Urbana comes together for Hands-Off! rally

Champaign Hands-Off! Mobilization — **CHAMPAIGN** - Over a thousand people gathered at West Park for the Hands-Off! Mobilization rally on Saturday at noon. Across the nation, hundreds of thousands of Americans participated in a national day of action to protest policies implemented since Donald Trump began his second term as President. Critics highlight Trump's frequent use of executive orders, bypassing legislative process, which they argue has harmed the country's reputation, economy, and exacerbated societal divisions. The two-hour rally featured several guest speakers who shared their thoughts on the state of the country since Trump has taken office. Conservative estimates put the attendance significantly above last Saturday's rain-soaked Rally for Democracy organized by Champaign-Urbana Resistance Effort (CURE) in Urbana. See more photos here ...

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Hands Off! mass moblizations this Saturday in Central Illinois

CHAMPAIGN – Hands Off! is organizing a national day of action on April 5 across the country. Local rallies will occur in Charleston, Bloomington, Springfield, and Peoria, in addition to the main protest in Washington, D.C.

Champaign-Urbana's protest will be at West Side Park on Saturday from noon until 2 p.m. Last week, despite persistent rain, more than 300 demonstrators gathered at the Champaign County Courthouse to protest the policies and actions of President Donald Trump's second administration.

Partnering with the AFL-CIO, the ACLU, Patriotic Millionaires, the National Education Association, and more than two dozen organizations, the objective is for people across the country to take action. They hope thousands of people will march, rally, disrupt, and demand an end to this billionaire power grab.

"We’ll show up at state capitals, federal buildings, congressional offices, and city centers—anywhere we can make sure they hear us," it says on the organization's website.

They believe America is undergoing a hostile takeover by billionaires with policies affecting voting rights, the Social Security system, and the gutting of laws protecting against predatory financial practices in consumer banking.

"We are facing a national crisis. Our democracy, our livelihoods, and our rights are all on the line as Trump and Musk execute their illegal takeover."

Interesting articles:

League of Women Voters to host peaceful protest around Illinois

CHICAGO - Local chapters of the League of Women Voters of Illinois will host community protests and rallies in five cities across Illinois tomorrow, March 4. The goal is to bring people together in solidarity during the president's address to Congress on Tuesday.

Donald Trump will deliver the first joint congressional address of his second presidency on Tuesday at 9 p.m. EST. While not a State of the Union address, the president is expected to announce his goals for the year and accomplishments as he starts his second term before a packed House chamber.

LWVIL says the events around the state are being held to "offer a peaceful and unified space to come together for the health of our democracy, the future of our nation, and the well-being of all its people."

Gatherings will be held in Batavia, downtown Chicago, Naperville, Rockford, and at the Courthouse Plaza in Peoria.

"Defending democracy is our mission," Becky Simon, president of the League of Women Voters of Illinois, said in a release today, stressing an "urgent" need for peaceful protest during this administration. "The League’s spirit to act and fight for our democracy is exactly the courage we need to defend our constitutional republic."

Kathy Cortez, LWVIL vice president for issues and advocacy, noted that "The League has been defending democracy for 105 years, and we are just getting started."

League of Women Voters of Illinois protests will take place on Tuesday, March 4, at the following locations:

Batavia: 7:30 pm, Calvary Episcopal Church, 222 S Batavia Ave, Batavia, IL 60510
Chicago: 7:30 pm, Federal Plaza, 50 S. Adams St, Chicago, IL 60604
Rockford: 7:00 pm, Rockford City Hall, 425 East State Street, Rockford, 61104
Naperville: 4:30 pm, Washington Street Overpass by 5th Avenue Train Station, 105 E 4th Avenue, Naperville, IL 60540
Peoria: 7:30 pm, Peoria County Courthouse Plaza, 324 Main Street, Peoria IL 61602

A just peace, nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine

Sam Veremchuk on the U of I Quad on Monday

Photos: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

URBANA - Samuel Veremchuk, a graduate student at the University of Illinois, organized a rally, drawing a small yet passionate group of attendees, predominantly Ukrainian, Eastern European, and supportive Americans. The event, 'Rally for a Just Peace in Ukraine!', aimed to bolster solidarity for Ukraine amidst the Russian invasion and the evolving US foreign policy under the new Trump administration was held on the Quad behind the Illini Union Monday afternoon.

Ukrainian-American Joseph Mosse expresses his thoughts and frustrations at the rally on Monday. Mosse lived in Ukraine for ten years when he was a child. Mosse said, "Ukrainians have benefited greatly from support from the United States, from Europe and from other countries. Frankly even that support was never enough."

On Thursday, four campus departments will sponsor the screening of "Intercepted," a documentary film composed of intercepted phone calls from Russian soldiers on Ukrainian battlefields to their families and friends in Russia. The film combines these recordings with vivid imagery depicting the aftermath of Russia's destructive invasion. Sponsored by the Russian, East European, and Eurasian Center; Ukrainian Students Association; Slavic Reference Service; and Department of Slavic Languages & Literatures, the event will include a discussion featuring REEC Associate Director Markian Dobczansky and Olha Khometa, Assistant Professor in Slavic Languages & Literatures.

The screening is free to the public and will be shown in Room 66 at Main Library, located 1408 W Gregory Dr in Urbana.

Protesters show support for Ukraine on University of Illinois campus

Free America Walkout protests planned for Champaign and Urbana on January 20

Cold and Bold – March for America planned for Jan. 18 at West Side Park

Nationwide 'No Kings' Movement Gears Up for Flag Day Protests

Supporters of higher education rally for students' rights on two campuses last week

Commentary |
“Hands Off” rallies across the nation were patriotism in action

"50 States, 1 Movement": 50501 Encourages community action for next protest

Champaign-Urbana comes together for Hands-Off! rally

Hands Off! mass moblizations this Saturday in Central Illinois

League of Women Voters to host peaceful protest around Illinois

A just peace, nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine

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