February 1, 2025:
Noche Diaz and Leo Pargo with the Revcom Corps arrested in front of Trump Tower in Chicago!
Noche Diaz and Leo Pargo with the Revcom Corps arrested in front of Trump Tower in Chicago!
Hundreds of people turned out in downtown Chicago to oppose Trump and Trump/MAGA fascism, including some 60-70 who first attended a rally and march led by THE REVCOM CORPS For The Emancipation Of Humanity. The high point of the day was when Noche Diaz, national spokesperson for THE REVCOM CORPS For The Emancipation Of Humanity, climbed atop a bus shelter and led hundreds of mainly young people in a powerful call-and-response that began with the main slogan of the day: "In the name of humanity, we refuse to accept a fascist America!” There had been an oppressive police presence all day long, and at this point a gang of them swarmed Noche as he climbed down from the shelter and arrested him, along with well-known Chicago revcom Leo Pargo, dragged them to jail, and charged them with "crimes" that carry sentences of a year in jail.
This was the culmination of a wild and truly beautiful day. People started arriving early to The Revcom Corps, Chicago protest, saying they “got a leaflet” at their high school or college, “found it on social media,” “had worked with Refuse Fascism.” When the rally started, there were more than 60 people gathered in front of two beautiful banners saying: “In The Name of Humanity We Refuse to Accept a Fascist America” and “This Whole System Is Rotten and Illegitimate, We Need and We Demand A Whole New Way To Live, A Fundamentally Different System.”
Noche, national spokesperson for THE REVCOM CORPS, at Feb 1 Chicago protest
They listened with rapt attention to the speakers, many holding picket signs The Revcom Corps had made for the occasion. The rally was concise and to the point. Statements were read from Rev. Michael Pfleger from Chicago’s St. Sabina Community, and Bob Bossie SJC, retired Catholic priest and longtime antiwar activist. Speakers included Paul Street from the Editorial Board of Refuse Fascism, and Baltazaar Enriquez, president of the Little Village (a neighborhood of Mexican and other immigrants) community council. The program concluded with an incredibly well-received speech from Noche Diaz.
Rafael Kadaris speaking at Bean for February 1 rally in Chicago
The crowd grew as we marched toward downtown Millennium Park. A high school student helped lead chants along with members of The Revcom Corps as someone in the crowd kept rhythm with a drum. We marched into the park and gathered under the Chicago Cloud Gate sculpture (locally known as The Bean). As the crowd and people visiting this famous tourist spot gathered around, a second rally was held and was reflected off The Bean.
As the crowd, which had grown in numbers, marched down the stairs toward Michigan Avenue, we ran into another protest of hundreds of predominately Latino youth who began cheering loudly as they saw us. At this point, the two marches merged, and a line of bike cops blocked the crowd, shutting down Michigan Ave. Chants in Spanish and English filled the air, including the entire crowd of hundreds shouting “Fuck Trump! Fuck Trump!”
Chicago march of hundreds of Latino youth merges with REVCOM CORPS rally
When the police finally unkettled the crowd, we took off marching through the streets of downtown to honks and fists from people on the streets. The march concluded with the large crowd chanting and shouting outside Trump Tower while police on bikes and cars tried to contain the protesters.
It was at this point that Noche Diaz climbed on a bus shelter and spoke to the crowd. As of Sunday morning, the social media post of Noche’s speech and arrest had 6,000 views on Instagram, and The Revcom Corps, Chicago is getting DMs like crazy. Noche and Leo are scheduled to appear in court on March 12. Stay tuned and get involved in the battle to get the charges on Noche and Leo dropped!
UPDATE, February 2: