Berwyn Residents Mobilize Against Trump Attacks
About 200 people showed up for a “Hands Off!” rally in Berwyn this morning, April 5, 2025, as part of a nationwide day of protest and organized locally by Berwyn Neighborhood Alliance. Photo by Paul Goyette.
By Irene Romulo
As thousands of people gathered throughout the United States for a national day of action against President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s attack on democracy, more than one hundred Berwyn and Cicero residents gathered at the corner of Cermak and Home Avenue on April 5, 2025, to stage their own local protest.
The crowd was intergenerational, joyous and determined. Music played as they waved homemade signs at passing cars that drove by honking in solidarity. Once the program started, the crowd was attentive and responsive, chanting in unison in between each speaker. Neighbors greeted each other and welcomed people as they arrived.
“Trump is taking away rights for many people and I believe that’s wrong,” said Eileen, a ten-year old who attended the protest with her mom. She waved a hand drawn sign she made just minutes earlier that read, “Make America safer, kinder and better.”
Eileen said she was happy to see so many people she didn’t know.
All nine of the event’s speakers called for unity and defense against cuts to social services and attacks on vulnerable community members, including children, disabled individuals, trans people and undocumented immigrants. Several also echoed Representative Abdelnasser Rashid’s call to protect our environment, fight tariffs and end the genocide in Palestine. “Let me tell you something, the attack on trans people is not about trans people,” shared Téa Jones-Yelvington to an affirming crowd. Jones-Yelvington is a Berwyn resident who spoke at the protest. “They care about power. The fastest way to power is to pick off the most vulnerable. And when they come for trans people, it is the most vulnerable that will bear the brunt of the attack–Black trans women, trans children, disabled trans people, trans people on Medicaid. We are fighting fascism….refuse to be divided and conquered. Genocide is already underway. Do not let them sacrifice us.”
Lynette Jackson, a Berwyn resident and one of the event organizers, said she was surprised at the large turnout.
“People are ready to resist. They're ready to push back,” Jackson said. “The fact that we have, white, Black, Latinx, Asian, elderly, LGBT trans people here today, most of whom probably never met each other before, is showing what we can do. It’s really speaking to the possibilities.”
Many attendees lingered in the area after the speakers were done to continue protesting and connecting with neighbors. Speakers at the event encouraged attendees to join the Chicago protest at Daley Plaza at noon, which brought together thousands of individuals in protest. Event organizers also circulated a list of organizations people can support to join sustained efforts. The list of the items is below.
BUNGALO+
Monthly mutual aid lunch meetup: Every third Thursday from 11am-12pm at Ebenezer Church in Berwyn
Fill a Community Fridge at Ebenezer Church and Oak Park Church in Berwyn
Berwyn Tree Canopy Initiative
Speak out at Berwyn City Council every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month at 8pm at Berwyn City Hall
Irene Romulo is a Cicero resident and Cicero Independiente’s Development and Community Engagement Director.
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