On the morning of Oct. 18, I pulled a yellow t-shirt from the back of my closet, drew up a sign, loosely secured a dowel to my sign with duct tape, and headed to the train station with my parents. As we stepped out of Ogilvie Station and made our way towards Grant Park, we joined the stream of protestors flocking to the main stage at Butler Field. Everyone walking was marveling at each other’s signs and several cars honked their horns as they passed by us.

I was struck by an overwhelming sense of community, and reminded of the power of the people in a democracy. Hearing speakers on stage share their experiences as immigrants, alongside listening to Governor Pritzker’s reassuring remarks, gave me a sliver of hope that concerned citizens can make a real impact. There was palpable anger in the air, but what I felt the most was a strong feeling of pride—pride in Chicago, pride in myself and my family, and pride in my country.

I was inspired by the creativity of the signs I saw, and how eloquently many of them expressed how they felt about recent government actions. I photographed nearly every sign I saw, but here are the signs that stood out to me the most.

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My parents walk while holding their American flags and handmade signs. One reads, “Hands off our rights” and lists human rights such as freedom of speech, the right to healthcare, women’s rights, and LGBTQIA+ rights. The other reads, “I like my ICE in my coffee, not in my streets.”