Aug 29, 2025 - News

Chicago Labor Day march targets Trump, federal threats to workers

Carrie Shepherd

Illustration of a fist overlaid with the silhouettes of protestors and protest signs. — Illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axios

Chicago labor leaders, organizers and elected officials are scheduled to join a "Workers Over Billionaires: A Labor Day of Action" protest on Monday.

The big picture: President Trump's threats to bring the National Guard to Chicago will be part of marchers' message, organizers say, as well as protecting Medicaid and federal programs for working people.

Chicago is seen as the birthplace of the U.S. labor rights movement, including the fight for an eight-hour workday and union activism spurred by the Pullman Strike.

The latest: The president could send in troops as soon as next week, CNN reported.

Zoom in: The event begins at 11am at Haymarket Memorial and will march around the Loop to express backlash against major corporations like Target and Tesla.

Mayor Brandon Johnson, Chicago Teachers Union president Stacy Davis Gates and the Rev. Jamal Bryant, leader of the national Target Boycott, are scheduled to speak.

Zoom out: Events are scheduled nationwide, including several in Chicago and the nearby suburbs, stretching from Crystal Lake to Kankakee.

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Chicago Labor Day march targets Trump, federal threats to workers

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