'Free America' Protest In Elmwood Park Marks Anniversary Of Trump's Second Term

Photo: Kevin Gosztola

By Kevin Gosztola, Editor

In the frigid cold, and at 2 p.m. on a Tuesday, a group of Elmwood Park residents gathered near the Village Circle entrance to mark the one-year anniversary of President Donald Trump’s second term with a protest.

It was one of thousands of “Free America Walkout” demonstrations that were held throughout the United States. They were part of an effort to convince more citizens to “walk out of their homes, work, school, and commerce” and oppose the “growing threat of fascism.”

The protest in Elmwood Park was largely supported by a community group called Elmwood Park Neighbors United (EPNU).

EPNU started in 2025 to help defend immigrants as ICE operations spread fear throughout the Chicagoland area. They also spent the past few months collecting donations to help vulnerable residents with basic needs.

Around 10-15 people stood on the corner for a little more than an hour. They mostly had homemade signs that caught the attention of drivers and led to lots of honks of support.

One person who saw the protest drove to Dunkin’ Donuts and purchased coffee and donuts that they then dropped off. It was their way of showing thanks for standing in the wintry air.

Silvia Rogel, a Salvadoran immigrant and Elmwood Park resident, co-organized the demonstration. She told the newsletter it was so meaningful to have neighbors come out to support their community-led protest against rising authoritarianism and rampant civil rights violations.

“People are getting hurt, but the thing hurting most: our reputation as leaders of the free world. Our credibility is at stake, as are our freedoms and liberties,” Rogel added.

Rogel recalled how her family first immigrated to the U.S. over 40 years ago because they wanted “a life free from the lack of opportunity elsewhere.”

Since Trump’s re-election, no protests had been held in Elmwood Park. But Sara Lindsay, an Elmwood Park resident and deputy editor for the Elmwood Park Advocate, wanted to change that. She joined Rogel in planning the protest.

“Even in the bitter cold, people came out to support their neighbors,” Lindsay said. “Taking part in the ‘Free America Walkout’ connected our community to a national movement for immigrant safety, democracy, and basic human rights.”

Lindsay has written several editorials about the ICE agent who killed Silverio Villegas Gonzalez in Franklin Park. She concluded, “I’m proud of Elmwood Park, and this is just the beginning.”