Residents in Joliet and Bolingbrook on the weekend made their voice heard when they protested at the No Kings rally in their communities. Residents in Naperville also came out in large numbers on nearly every street in their downtown area in protest. This was the second national “No Kings” rally this year; the first one was in June.

About 3000 protests were planned in the U.S and around the world on Saturday, Oct 18 about 2,000 turned out in Joliet on route 30 near the Joliet Mall.

The demonstrations that began in June have been in opposition to President Donald Trump’s perceived authoritarian agenda. Immigration, increase in healthcare cost on those who can least afford it, cuts to Medicaid, tax cuts for the wealthy are a few of the concerns.  American Constitution! “No Kings,” according to protesters rally decree at the Joliet protest.

In Bolingbrook there were more than 1,000 protesters at Janes Avenue and Boughton Road, organized by Working Families of Will County and the progressive grassroots organization with chapters across the country, Indivisible Illinois.

Samuel Garcia, a Bolingbrook resident, said he came to march against Trump’s “authoritarian” agenda.

“This immigration crackdown is getting out of hand,” said Garcia. “Good honest people are scared to leave their houses and go to work. Seeing the National Guard on Chicago streets truly is worrisome to me.”

Karrie Webb of Joliet said there is no danger of rebellion in Chicago that would justify using troops.

“This truly has gotten out of hand,” she said. “You truly feel like you are living under a dictatorship. National Guard should be out patrolling our streets if there was a natural disaster.” Not for immigration

While he was out shopping with his family at the Promenade in Bolingbrook, Jim Sitarikos wondered why people are so upset.

“Trump is just trying to get rid of illegal criminals roaming our streets,” he said. “What is so wrong with that? Also, if you are an illegal immigrant, you broke the law. What is stopping me from going into a store and pick up something without paying for it. I should not be charged even if I broke the law.”

According to organizers, there were nearly 7 million protesters at more than 2,700 events across the United States on Saturday.