Chicago Mayor Leads ‘No Federal Troops’ Chant as Labor Day Protests Sweep US

Key facts

• An estimated 865 'Workers Over Billionaires' events took place across the US, including in Guam.
• Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson led chants of 'No federal troops in the city of Chicago' at a rally.
• The White House defended Trump, saying 'no one has done more for working men and women.'
• Trump launched a federal takeover of D.C. on Aug. 11, deploying the National Guard.
• The TSA expects nearly 17.5 million flyers over the Labor Day weekend, with airlines projecting record passenger numbers.
• New York City mayoral rivals attended the West Indian Day Parade, marking the start of a two-month sprint to Election Day.
• Grassroots group 50501 partnered with May Day Strong to organize the demonstrations.

A Day of Dual Protest: Workers’ Rights and Anti-Authoritarianism

Labor Day 2025 saw an unprecedented wave of protests across the United States, as activists, voters, and Democratic leaders rallied against both the erosion of workers’ rights and what they called President Donald Trump’s authoritarian overreach. The demonstrations, organized under the banner 'Workers Over Billionaires,' drew an estimated 865 events from Washington, D.C., to the Pacific territory of Guam. In Chicago, Mayor Brandon Johnson attended a rally at the Haymarket Memorial, where he led the crowd in chanting, 'No federal troops in the city of Chicago.' The chant reflected a growing fear that Trump’s federal takeover of Washington, D.C., could be replicated in other cities. The Chicago Teachers Union, originally planning to protest billionaire influence, pivoted to oppose a possible federal takeover of their city.

Washington, D.C., Under Federal Control

The protests were in part a response to Trump’s decision on Aug. 11 to launch a federal takeover of the nation’s capital, deploying the National Guard to patrol the streets. The President justified the move by citing 'crime, bloodshed, bedlam, and squalor' in D.C., a characterization that local officials vehemently rejected and have challenged in court. On Monday morning, a 'Freedom Run' took place through the district to protest what organizers called 'Trump’s fascist takeover of D.C.' Footage showed dozens of runners holding signs reading 'freedom not fascism,' while others wore specially made 'D.C. Freedom Run' T-shirts and waved Washington, D.C., flags.

A National Movement Against Billionaire Influence

The 'Workers Over Billionaires' events were organized by May Day Strong, which described participants as 'working people rising up to stop the billionaire takeover—not just through the ballot box or the courts, but through building a bigger and stronger movement.' The group partnered with the grassroots network 50501—short for '50 protests, 50 states, 1 day'—which has previously rallied against what it calls the 'anti-democratic and illegal actions of the Trump Administration and its plutocratic allies.' The demonstrations also drew support from major labor organizations, including the AFL-CIO, and focused on issues such as proposed cuts to Medicaid and Social Security. Crowds gathered in Chicago, San Diego, and Washington, D.C., to denounce the influence of business tycoons and corporations over the second Trump administration.

White House Defends Trump’s Record

The White House pushed back against the protests, with spokesperson Taylor Rogers telling TIME on Monday that 'no one has done more for working men and women' than President Trump. The statement came amid Trump’s history of taking a strong stance against protesters. Ahead of a national military parade in Washington, D.C., on June 14, Trump warned that 'people that want to protest will be met with big force,' calling participants 'people that hate our country.' Despite such warnings, Americans have continued to exercise their right to protest. The Labor Day demonstrations marked the latest in a series of mass mobilizations against the administration’s policies.

Record Travel and Political Races

The holiday weekend also saw record-breaking travel. The nearly 17.5 million passengers were expected to pass through security checkpoints, with several airlines estimating they would break records for Labor Day weekend passenger numbers. In New York City, the Labor Day West Indian Day Parade became a key stop for mayoral candidates, marking the beginning of a two-month sprint to Election Day. Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani’s rivals sought to narrow his lead as the parade drew thousands of attendees.

Legal and Political Stakes Ahead

The federal takeover of D.C. faces a legal challenge from city officials, who argue that Trump’s depiction of the capital is false and that the deployment of the National Guard is unconstitutional. The outcome of that case could set a precedent for whether the President can unilaterally assume control of other cities. Meanwhile, the 'Workers Over Billionaires' movement has signaled its intention to continue mobilizing, with organizers calling for sustained action beyond the ballot box and the courts. The coalition’s ability to unite labor rights and anti-authoritarian sentiment may shape the political landscape heading into the 2026 midterm elections.

A Movement Testing the Limits of Protest

Labor Day 2025 demonstrated that the American protest movement has evolved into a broad coalition capable of addressing multiple grievances simultaneously. By linking workers’ rights to opposition against federal overreach, activists have created a potent narrative that resonates beyond traditional labor circles. Yet the White House’s steadfast defense of Trump’s record suggests that the administration is unlikely to alter course. The coming months will test whether the movement can translate street pressure into concrete political and legal victories, or whether the protests will remain a symbolic expression of dissent.

The bottom line

• Labor Day 2025 saw 865 'Workers Over Billionaires' events across the US, including in Guam, blending labor rights and anti-Trump sentiment.
• Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson led chants against federal troops, reflecting fears that Trump’s D.C. takeover could spread.
• Trump’s federal takeover of D.C., launched Aug. 11, deployed the National Guard and faces a legal challenge from city officials.
• The TSA expects 17.5 million flyers over the holiday weekend, with airlines projecting record passenger numbers.
• New York City mayoral candidates used the West Indian Day Parade to campaign ahead of the two-month sprint to Election Day.
• The White House defended Trump’s record on workers, despite his past threats of force against protesters.