Chicago, IL – A federal immigration raid at a Walgreens on Chicago’s East Side Tuesday has ignited national outrage and fueled calls for mass protest ahead of this weekend’s “No Kings Day” demonstrations.
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According to eyewitnesses and social media footage, an ICE agent tackled a Black man outside the Walgreens on East 106th Street, pinning him to the pavement during what bystanders described as a “chaotic, violent” arrest. The store was briefly closed as staff and customers evacuated.
Governor J.B. Pritzker condemned the incident, calling ICE “an out-of-control danger” to Illinois residents. In statements Tuesday, Pritzker accused federal agents of “recklessly throwing tear gas into neighborhoods and busy streets,” demanding the Trump administration end what he called “unchecked attacks” on civilians.
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Civil rights advocates say the Walgreens raid reflects a larger escalation of federal enforcement in predominantly Black and Latino communities. Legal groups are seeking records from DHS and ICE to determine whether the operation violated state or constitutional protections.
The incident comes just days before nationwide “No Kings Day” protests scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 18. Demonstrations in Chicago, Springfield, and across the U.S. are expected to draw thousands in response to what organizers call “government overreach and authoritarian force.”
Community leaders are urging peaceful assembly while demanding federal accountability. “This is about protecting our neighbors and our democracy,” one Chicago organizer said.
