‘No Kings’ protests and rallies scheduled all around Chicago suburbs on Saturday

The second iteration of No Kings protests are happening nationwide Saturday, with many scheduled in the suburbs.

The first No Kings rallies were held around the country June 14, organized by various progressive groups to protest President Donald Trump’s policies and unite folks who feel he’s approached his presidency more as a monarch than a democratically elected leader.

In Arlington Heights, about 3,000 people came to the event over the summer, according to Bill Davis, co-leader of the Northwest Suburbs Organization for Action. He says they’re expecting a major increase at this weekend’s protest — possibly as many as 5,000 to 10,000 attendees.

“Six months ago, we saw the current administration breaking some norms, doing things that no other administration had done, things that most legal cases find that they cannot do,” Davis said of his group’s motivation for helping organize the event.

The Arlington Heights rally is at 3 p.m. in Recreation Park, 500 Miner St.

At the rally, 19 different organizations that helped with the planning process will have informational tables set up. At the Northwest Suburbs Organization for Action table, Davis’s 34-foot blow-up Trump chicken will be on display.

Guest speakers at the Arlington Heights event include Patti Vasquez from WPOT; there also will be a short march over to Northwest Highway.

“More than the speakers — more than the chicken — it’s the people that show up,” Davis said. “People who probably, in their last 20 years, have done no more than maybe vote, maybe not even vote, they will be showing up. They will be energized.”

Elsewhere, “No Kings” events are scheduled in Schaumburg, Palatine and other neighboring suburbs. The national “No Kings” website, nokings.org, features an interactive map showing all of the different rallies.