CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Amid dreary, wet and cold weather, downtown was alive with various protests Saturday afternoon speaking out on abortion, anti-war and conservative politics.
Anti-war protesters, who, as part of a nation-wide movement began their protest earlier that day, sheltered themselves from the winter storm by gathering under an overhang at the Thompson Center. They brought messages ranging from anti-war, the removal of the Trump administration, and what they call "concentration camps" on the nation's southern border. They marched through the Loop to Trump Tower before taking a pro-abortion rights stance at Daley Plaza where the annual March for Life Rally was being held.
The anti-abortion members of the March for Life Rally 2020 opened up their day's events around 1 p.m. at Daley Plaza with a rendition of the "Star Spangled Banner" as the anti-war protesters transitioned their slogan to one supporting pro-abortion rights.
Around 1,000 March for Life demonstrators set up tents at Daley Plaza and welcomed the counter-protesters as the pro-abortion rights and anti-abortion groups converged.
"They're more than welcome. Of course we want to talk about it. That's the whole point, I think, of this," said one anti-abortion activist.
As the pro-abortion rights protesters passed by the the Daley Plaza along Randolph Street, they shouted their mantra, "Abortion on demand, and without apology, without this basic right, women can't be free."
The same anti-abortion activist who said he welcomed a conversation with the multi-messaged activists representing anti-war and pro-abortion rights views that also criticized the Trump administration said his group is hopeful of the current political climate in the United States, "It's very encouraging, we don't want to get too excited but it would be nice to get more legislation on our side."