Overview
- Hundreds gathered at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial before marching through downtown to Federal Plaza in a Veterans Day action organized by About Face and the May Day Strong coalition.
- Speakers condemned ICE and Border Patrol operations and described the presence of federal agents and Guard troops in neighborhoods as an “occupation,” rallying under the message “No ICE, No Cuts, No Occupation.”
- The demonstration was organized less than 12 hours after the president again urged a military deployment to Chicago on Truth Social.
- Participants linked stepped-up immigration raids to federal budget cuts and a prolonged government shutdown that organizers said harmed veterans and cut critical services.
- U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and 155 congressional Democrats submitted an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to deny a pause of a temporary restraining order on Guard deployments, while organizers reported increased inquiries from service members about their rights related to domestic assignments.