“Beautiful people
You live in the same world as I do
But somehow I never noticed you before today
I’m ashamed to say”

— Melanie, Beautiful People, from Affectionately Melanie (1969)

““[The] only people who care about these Trump Derangement Therapy Sessions are the reporters who are paid to cover them””

— Abigail Jackson, White House Spokesperson (March 28, 2026)

“Look what’s happening out in the streets
Got a revolution, got to revolution
Hey, I’m dancing down the street
Got a revolution, got to revolution
Ain’t it amazing all the people I meet
Got a revolution, got to revolution”

— Volunteers, the Jefferson Airplane, from Volunteers (1969)

NOTE: This post has been significantly updated since it was first posted on Sunday.

Kudos to the 30,000 to 60,000 people who turned out for Saturday’s No Kings rally in Grant Park. Most notable were the signs, and in some cases, the costumes. Unfortunately, everything else about the outing had the feel of Me TV ‘s carousel of vintage television reruns—Gilligan’s Island, Hogan’s Heroes, I Love Lucy, and I Dream of Jeannie. While there were young people in the crowd, older, white women were the predominant demographic, many of whom may have well been in Grant Park during the 1968 Democratic Convention and the ensuing anti-war demonstrations over the next five years.

Doubt me? Before the speeches began, DJ Sergio Fernandez played the soundtrack of their lives, including Sam Cooke’s A Change Is Going to Come (1964); Eddie Harris and Les McCann’s Compared to What (1969); Nina Simone’s Mississippi Goddam (1964); Bob Marley’s Get Up, Stand Up (1973); Bob Dylan’s The Times They are Changing (1964); Gil Scott-Heron’s The Revolution Will Not be Televised (1970); Common and John Legend’s Glory (2014); Black Sabbath’s War Pigs (1970); and Rage Against the Machine’s Killing in the Name Of (1992). I also heard Woody Guthrie’s This Machine Kills Fascists (1943) and Public Enemy’s Fight the Power (1990) in the mix.

That’s right, only one song dates from the current century, and it was two-decades-old. Averaging the dates, the song selections dates to 1973. Imagine had Woodstock featured the music that was popular in 1919.

The critical question is why the playlist wasn’t filled with protest songs from the current era. Is the new generation fixated on Taylor Swift breakup songs, or are the organizers simply out of touch? No matter what the answer, the playlist offers some insight into why young people were not in the majority in what in large part was an demonstration addressing their futures. Even Donald J. Trump isn’t going to draft 75-year-old woman to fight in Cuba, Iran, Venezuela, and who knows where else, although many in attendance Saturday would not put it past him. So, where in the words of Ed Sullivan, “were the youngsters”?

Attendance. According to Block Club of Chicago, an Indivisible of Chicago spokesperson claimed that “an estimated 200,000 people” attended Saturday’s rally. Since that article was published, Indivisible has repeated the 200,000 number on its Facebook page. Whatever the headcount, credit goes to those who gave who showed up on a Saturday morning, forgoing golf, Pilates, or pancakes with the kids.

So why does the accuracy of the attendance number matter? Quite simply, Trump is a known liar, exaggerator, and fabricator when it comes to every claim and assertion he makes. As every advocate knows, if you are going to call someone out, you had better be standing on irreproachable ground.

Unfortunately, the City of Chicago no longer provides official crowd estimates, largely because such estimates always prove controversial. My rule of thumb: Take the organizer’s estimate and divide it by four. That formula would put Saturday’s attendance at 50,000.

I recall one relatively recent demonstration on Wacker Drive across from the Trump Tower where one of the organizers told those assembled around the makeshift stage (the back of pickup truck) that there were “thousands of us here today.” I know the difference between thousands and 500 to 1,000 people. In defense of that speaker, I suspect the claim was aspirational. Every organizer wants a higher headcount.

I view Indivisible’s estimate as questionable for several reasons. First, I spoke with someone who once was involved in staging the summer music festivals at the Petrillo Music Shell. According to this source, Butler Field’s capacity is 30,000 people. One significant difference between the No Kings event and Bluesfest is that the asphalt area surrounding the stage was filled with folding, metal chairs during Bluesfest, so Butler Field’s capacity for Saturday’s event was higher, but not 170,000 persons higher.

Second, I spoke with a number of people who frequently attend-area Chicago demonstrations as observers. All agreed the number was in the “tens of thousands.” The Chicago Tribune’s article, the Sun-Times’ article, and Block Club of Chicago’s article all referenced “thousands,” which does not equate with 200,000. Had the numbers been above 100,000, I strongly suspect all three outlets would have used different phrasing, like “tens of thousands,” or “over 100,000.”

Third, I was not at Chicago’s No Kings rally in November of last year—I was at the Philadelphia rally—but someone who did attend the November rally, told me that Columbus Drive and East Jackson were filled with people. That clearly was not the case Saturday.

Fourth, two years ago, I spoke with a consultant who estimates crowd sizes . According to him, the first cut at estimating crowd size not surprisingly requires an aerial photograph. The estimator lays a grid divided into one-inch squares over the image; then counts the number of people in a representative square; and then multiplies that count by the number of squares.

I used the aerial photograph that appeared in the Block Club of Chicago’s article. Because the image was very low resolution, I had trouble counting the exact number of heads in what was a representative square. I estimated that there were somewhere between 500 to 1,000 dots in the square I selected. With 41 squares, I arrived at 41,000 using the high end of the range. Even doubling that number puts the attendance at 82,000, well below 200,000.

The photograph that I used posed one other problem. Most likely captured by a drone, the viewpoint was not directly overhead, but looking from the front of the crowd to the back. Given the laws of geometry and optics, the squares toward the back included more territory than those at the front, but I strongly suspect that does not account for the discrepancy in headcount.

In response to a question I posed on Indivisible’s Facebook page, someone from Indivisible wrote:

Thanks for asking. Indivisible uses RSVP numbers as baseline and reports from local marshals across the 3,200+ events nationally. Drone coverage is helpful - We had estimated 250K for NK2 and knew NK3 wasn't as densely packed in Grant Park.

Reliance on the RSVPs may be helpful in planning for security and other needs, but I don’t view it as a particularly reliable way to estimate crowd size. People don’t always do what they say will do. Moreover, I suspect most people don’t RSVP. Finally, how does Indivisible avoid double counting people. Some people who RSVP were pictured in the aerial photographs.

In fairness to the organizers, Indivisible held satellite rallies in over 20 communities surrounding Chicago, which likely diluted the size of the Chicago rally.

In term of demographics, for whatever reason, Indivisible Chicago’s effort is not attracting large numbers of Latinos or African Americans. To my eye, both groups were underrepresented. Certainly, there were plenty of college students in the crowd, but once again, given the number of Chicago-area colleges and universities, the crowd should have included larger clusters of student-aged demonstrators.

Media. As the old English idiom goes, “third time’s a charm.” Not on Saturday. The national media is no longer enamored with the No Kings movement. The New York Times placed its coverage of the 3,000+ rallies below the digital fold. The Wall Street Journal did not even cover the events. Some might argue the Journal is a business publication that supports Trump, but that would be inaccurate. The Journal’s editorial page is a frequent Trump Administration critic. Its news coverage may be heavily business oriented, but it also cover national news stories, doing so objectively. As for the Washington Post, it placed its coverage on the digital equivalent of Page Three. No surprise there, given Jeff Bezos’ ownership. I plan to replace my Post subscription with one to The Atlantic.

Locally, the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, and Block of Club of Chicago all gave No Kings prominence, as did the local television stations. The story, however, did not dominate the headlines or the 10:00 PM television news.

Program. When Saturday’s No Kings program began, I was in the front row, at a slight angle to the speakers. I left shortly after Melody Angel performed A Change Is Going to Come and her self-penned In This America, a tribute to Trayvon Martin. Over the years, I’ve seen Angel countless times, always playing her purple and white Stratocaster, with a Jimi Hendrix sticker affixed to it.

Indivisible made an excellent choice with Angel as the opener, although I don’t know why she did not play the National Anthem. In the future, I would strongly recommend coordinating with the DJ who spins tunes before the speakers and performers hit the stage. The DJ rained on Angel’s parade by opening his set with A Change is Going to Come.

Following Angel, a group of volunteers took the stage. At that point, I headed back into the crowd, eventually circling Butler Field and returning to Columbus Drive. As a consequence, I didn’t see the speakers. Photographically, I made the right decision. The dingy Petrillo Music Shell should have been torn down long ago. Saturday, there was no visible stage lighting, so the speakers were cast in gloomy shadow, meaning the otherwise dynamic backdrops didn’t pop. Hardly inspirational, let along photogenic. Nobody should kid themselves: Rallies and marches are all about the visuals.

From what I can gather from the media coverage and what I did hear, Mayor Brandon Johnson and Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton were the two headliners. While slotting Johnson into the program was probably necessary—particularly given the need for city services to bring off the rally and march—he hardly warrants headliner status given his abysmal approval ratings, which hover in the low 30s. According to Chicago Magazine, his ratings at one point dipped into the teens.

Stratton closed out the program, with what essentially was a campaign speech for her U.S. Senate bid. In between Johnson and Stratton, others spoke, but I wasn’t paying much attention except to hear the stock phrases over the PA system when I was within earshot.

On the other hand, in Minneapolis, Joan Baez, Jane Fonda, Tom Morello, U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar, Maggie Rogers, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, and Bruce Springsteen made appearances. Granted, Minneapolis was designated as the No Kings flagship city for Saturday’s demonstrations for obvious reasons, but its population when combined with St. Paul’s, makes it the 19th largest city in the U.S, with Chicago ranking third. Surely Indivisible Chicago could have enlisted more star power.

Friday afternoon, I saw Yo-Yo Ma at Symphony Center. His performance was originally scheduled for Saturday, but was moved to Friday due to the anticipated No Kings crowds and traffic jams. Given that Ma performed at President Barack Obama’s first inauguration, he would have been a good choice. Did anyone ask him, particularly after he described dignity as the most important characteristic that a person can possess as he thanked the audience at his Friday performance?

How about Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy, the Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan, Kurt Elling, Jennifer Hudson, Liz Phair, Patti Smith, or Mavis Staples? What about Stephen Colbert, John Cusack, Rahm Emanuel, Harrison Ford, Jane Lynch, John Malkovich, David Mamet, Michelle Obama, Oprah, David Sedaris, or Gary Sinise, to name just a few famous people with Chicago connections? Did anyone extend an invitation to Pope Leo XIV, a native Chicagoan who has spoken out against the Trump Administration’s policies? Admittedly a very long shot, but If you don’t ask, you don’t get!

Finally, no need to make demonstrations dour outings. We need to find a little joy, particularly in these trying times. Consequently, Indivisible should consider hiring trumpeter Mario Abney and Chicago’s Second Line to lead the next march. Nothing like adding the joyful sounds of a New Orleans funeral procession to the festivities.

CPD. As usual, the Chicago Police Department put in a stellar performance. The police are regulars at countless demonstrations, but Saturday CPD went all out. As usual, the bicycle brigade managed rolling road closures with balletic aplomb. The Big Brass was out in force, with Police Superintendent Larry Snelling and Chief of Police Jon Hein overseeing the overall effort. The commanders who regularly manage downtown demonstrations were also keeping a watchful eye on the proceedings, as were hundreds of line officers.

Access to Butler Field was limited to foot. Barricades and salt trucks had been strategically positioned to prevent anyone from plowing a speeding car or truck into the crowd. The trees lining DuSable Lake Shore Drive served as additional protective barriers.

Counter Demonstrators. During the seven hours I spent at the rally and the march, I only saw one counter-demonstrator, which I found surprising. I had expected to see at least one contingent from the collar counties on the street heckling the marchers.

The single counter-demonstrator, clad in a cheap, celadon green tracksuit, was nothing but a first-class asshole. Materializing shortly after the march began, he held an American flag and a sign cryptically supporting Trump’s invasion of Iran as he heckled those behind the lead banners.

CPD’s policy when it comes to counter-demonstrators is straightforward. Like the demonstrators, counter-demonstrators have First Amendment rights. To avoid physical confrontations, CPD requires counter-demonstrators to keep their distance from the demonstrators, while allowing them to be within “sight and sound” of the rally or march.

Saturday’s counter-demonstrator was taunting the demonstrators; he may have been hoping for a physical confrontation, but nobody was taking the bait. Despite CPD’s warnings, the man kept trying for closer proximity to the marchers. Based on the man’s demeanor, I suspect CPD was more concerned that he would be the one who initiated physical contact.

As we marched north on Dearborn, the man kept pushing his luck. I only heard fragments of the exchange, but based on body language, I am pretty sure that CPD Director of Community Relations Glen Brooks issued the guy some sort of warning. Then a number of police officers created a human barricade between him and the marchers.

Had I been Brooks, the guy would have been in handcuffs. The problem, however, is the Illinois Safety Act, which makes an arrest in these situations largely pointless. Thankfully, the march ended without a physical confrontation, although an arrest would have made for better images.

The Trump Administration Response. In commenting on the over 3,000 No Kings rallies Saturday, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said, “[The] only people who care about these Trump Derangement Therapy Sessions are the reporters who are paid to cover them." This statement exemplifies why the Trump Administration is the single worst one in the country’s 250-year history. Put simply, Trump is the President of MAGA, not the United States. He rejects out of hand any debate and any viewpoint that he disagrees with or that challenges what he is doing. Such arrogance runs counter to our democratic norms.

Going Forward. I suspect there will be another No Kings rally toward the end of the summer when the sprint to the midterm elections begins. I offer the following suggestion: I was hopeful when organized labor and the students entered the music shell’s asphalt bowl. As noted, not a lot of people were behind the union and student banners. For the next rally, Indivisible should encourage group participation by having the various groups parade into the “seating” area one at a time shortly before the program begins. Someone from the stage would announce each group as it marched to a designated area. Each would be asked to wear different colored t-shirts or clothes. For example, the Chicago Teachers Union might be clad in blue t-shirts, while organized labor would be clad in green t-shirts.

From the standpoint of visuals, the area surrounding the stage then would be filled with pockets of color. By formally recognizing each group, the group leaders would have an incentive to enlist more group members to take part. Overall, the procession and the colors would create a spectacle, build group unity, and identify all the diverse groups participating in the rally and march.

Indivisible should also place people with buckets at strategic entry points. Participants would be asked (but certainly not required), to toss $5 into the bucket to help defray rally expenses.

Summing It All Up. Despite a slight chill in the air, the weather was beautiful. Those who turned out for the event had the opportunity to express themselves. Possibly of greater importance in these dark and lawless times, each demonstrator left knowing that he or she was not alone, but part of a much larger community resisting Trump’s attacks on America’s democratic institutions.

Given the large crowd—even 50,000 people represents a noteworthy turnout—the media and elected officials took notice, but the effort is unlikely to produce immediate tangible changes.

As far as I could tell, Indivisible Chicago missed an important opportunity to build its movement. Specifically, I did not see anyone taking names and email addresses. Nor did I see any voter registration efforts.

Going forward, Indivisible Chicago might want to talk to representatives from Chicago’s Ukrainian community. Hands down, the Ukrainians are the best demonstrators in the city because their efforts are highly theatrical, particularly in the months immediately following the Russian invasion. While those attending Saturday’s march significantly improved the visuals with clever homemade signage, the event lacked strong visuals except for the aerial photographs and videos. One thing is for sure: The next No Kings rally requires a much stronger speaker lineup.

Finally, Indivisible should take another cue from Chicago’s Ukrainians, who always sing both the Ukrainian and American National Anthems at their rallies. Symbolically, the Ukrainians are making it clear that they are Americans first, adding to their credibility. As far as I know, no one sang the National Anthem Saturday. Doing so would undercut Trump’s claim that No Kings demonstrators are members of the radical, lunatic far Left. America is their country, too.

Unless Indivisible departs from what is now a tired formula, the crowd size at future rallies will continue to decline.

[Click on an Image to Enlarge It. The Images Are Not Necessarily in Exact Chronological Order]