(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — While many protesters shouted, chanted, and waved their banners on Michigan Avenue Wednesday when former President Donald Trump was in town, some expressed themselves with music.
Protesters, primarily "anti-Trump," were quite visible and vocal outside the Chicago Hilton during Trump's appearance at the National Association of Black Journalists’ convention.
“When we come out, it's for two purposes. We want to lift the spirits of fellow protesters through music,” Steve Duncan said.
He is with the group "Sousaphones Against Hate," which was playing music, hoping to lighten the mood, while also expressing displeasure with Trump.
“You see, like some protest, or some neo-Nazi event they're marching and then there's a sousaphone walking behind them and you can't take them seriously anymore. So that's what we're hoping to do,” Duncan said.
The group is made up of about half a dozen musicians who play sousaphones, trombones, a euphonium and percussion.
“But also the nature of our ensemble is kind of ridiculous because it's sousaphone based and we usually play satirical songs. So we want to add humor to the process but also highlight the ridiculousness of and the silliness that it seems to be happening in the political process.
“Not to mention the weirdness in terms of what Donald Trump is up to these days. So it's kind of to bring some levity to the situation, but also to refer to the kind of silliness that's actually going on in the actual process itself.”
Chicago Police kept protesters across the street from the hotel. There are no reports of arrests.
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