Journal & Topics Media Group

‘Keep Families Together’ Demonstrators March In Glenview

200 In Village Join National Protest Of Trump Zero Tolerance Immigration Policy

State Rep. Laura Fine (D-17th) (center left) explains a state resolution calling on Gov. Bruce Rauner not to send state resources to the southern border of the United States at a demonstration in Glenview protesting President Donald Trump’s zero tolerance immigration policy. (Journal photos)

An estimated 200 people rallied and marched in near 100-degree heat Saturday (June 30) in Glenview to protest President Donald Trump’s zero tolerance policy on immigration which has separated children from families at the U.S.-Mexican border.

Glenview demonstrators joined similar protests in Chicago, Arlington Heights, Highland Park and more than 700 communities around the country. Trump recently signed an executive order to reverse the zero tolerance policy.

Demonstrators in Glenview gathered at noon at the Veterans Memorial at Glenview Road and River Drive where organizers, activists, residents, some students in high school, faith community leaders, State Rep. Laura Fine (D-17th) and State House candidate Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (D-17th) spoke out against the Trump Administration policy. Glenview demonstrators ranged in age from the very young to the elderly.

Other candidates at the event included Scott Britton, a Glenview village trustee running as a Democrat for county commissioner against incumbent Commissioner Gregg Goslin (R-14th).

Fine told the crowd a resolution was introduced in the Illinois General Assembly instructing Gov. Bruce Rauner not to send any resources to support federal border operations.

A Glenbrook South student encouraged fellow high school students to, “Vote as soon as you can.” Other activists were registering people to vote.

Another resident, Dwight Palmer, read “The New Colossus”, a poem by Emma Lazarus inscribed on the Statue of Liberty.

A crowd of about 200 demonstrators gathers at the Veterans Memorial at Glenview Road and River Drive, across the street from Our Lady of Perpetual Help, holding signs including one quoting the Bible’s Golden Rule (right), Saturday in Glenview.

Demonstrators left the plaza marching east down Glenview Road to Waukegan Road chanting, “This is what democracy looks like.” Most of the protesters took up positions on all four corners of the intersection where passing cars and trucks honked horns in support. A few demonstrators continued down Waukegan to the intersection of Lake Avenue.

The demonstration came on one of the hottest days of the year so far with highs reported at Wheeling’s Chicago Executive Airport at 95 degrees Fahrenheit with a heat index of 108. Protest organizers kept a van stocked with free bottles of water for protesters near the memorial plaza.

The protest was organized locally by Glenview resident Cathy Wilson. National protests were organized by the American Civil Liberties Union and MoveOn.org.

A blocks-long line of 200 protesters leaves the plaza at the Veterans Memorial at Glenview Road and River Drive carrying signs reading, “Family separation is cruel and immoral”, “Reunite families now” and chanting slogans, bound for the intersection of Glenview and Waukegan roads where they continued the demonstration.

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