DOWNTOWN — Hundreds of activists are expected to protest and stand in solidarity with trans people Downtown on Friday.
The Friday protest is open to everyone and will focus on supporting people who are transgender. Attendees will honor the memory of Keke Collier, a trans woman who was shot to death in Englewood in February, and speak out against the removal of protections for trans students at schools.
"Our community is large and beautiful! Let's show our government that we will not be silenced!" organizers wrote on Facebook. "We will not tolerate transphobia, transmisogyny or misogyny, homophobia, racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, classism, ableism or anti-Semitism!"
On Feb. 22, the Trump administration rescinded orders for schools to let students use the bathrooms and locker rooms of their gender identity. The Obama administration established the orders, arguing they protected trans students from discrimination.
Chicago Public Schools has said it will continue to allow students to use the bathroom that matches their gender identity.
The protest is 6-9 p.m. Friday at East Wacker Drive and North Wabash Avenue. More than 1,800 people have said they plan to attend on Facebook, and attendees will use the hashtag #TransUpFront to share photos and discussion on social media.
