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TikTok Activist Rachel Cohen Goes Viral as ICE Raids Chicago Loom

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Rachel Cohen opens one of her latest TikTok videos with a startling invitation:

“Come with me to get arrested outside 1930 Beach Street in Broadview.”

The short clip places her outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in suburban Broadview, where protesters watched vans fill with people being taken away.

For Cohen, the sound of chains scraping the pavement as detainees were led away is unforgettable. That moment — and many others like it — has now become central to her viral online campaign as Chicago braces for what could be the most aggressive immigration enforcement action in years.

Her TikTok videos, part tutorial and part rallying cry, are gaining tens of thousands of views. The timing is no coincidence: the Trump administration is preparing to send more than 200 federal agents into the city, with officials warning that raids could begin within days.

📌 Story Highlights

  • Rachel Cohen, Harvard Law graduate, left Skadden law firm in protest of Trump’s legal deals.

  • TikTok videos go viral, showing Chicagoans how to resist ICE raids and support detainees.

  • ICE raids Chicago expected to begin soon with more than 200 federal agents.

  • Gov. JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson vow no cooperation with ICE enforcement.

  • Fear spreads as festivals canceled, courthouse arrests spark unease in immigrant communities.

From Skadden to Street Protests

Cohen, originally from Ohio, graduated from Harvard Law School in 2022. Not long after, she joined the high-profile firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. But when the firm pledged millions in free legal services to causes backed by Trump, she walked away.

“As soon as the first firm offered what I would consider hush money to the Trump administration to get an order withdrawn, I resigned,” she explained in an interview with Block Club Chicago.

That public resignation letter, posted on LinkedIn, quickly went viral. She later circulated an open letter with other associates criticizing top firms for staying silent while Trump attacked them.

Instead of jumping back into corporate law, Cohen shifted gears. She took contract jobs, spoke at law schools and conferences, and devoted more time to activism.

“When I came back to Chicago, I told my best friend I wanted to spend the summer plugged into mutual aid and organizing,” she said.

Turning TikTok Into a Resistance Guide

Her new platform is unconventional: TikTok. But Cohen uses it strategically, producing videos that function as step-by-step guides for Chicagoans wondering how to resist ICE raids.

Instead of the familiar social media trend of “get ready with me for work,” her tagline is different:

“Come with me to get arrested.”

In one video, she walks viewers through ICE Court Watch in Chicago, showing them how to observe hearings at the ICE Field Office and Immigration Court, take notes, and report sightings of agents to community organizers.

In another, she recounts being arrested after blocking a deportation van in Broadview. She explains in plain terms what happens during an arrest, how risks differ depending on whether protesters are on city or federal property, and how groups like the National Lawyers Guild provide legal support.

Cohen is also clear about privilege.

“My best friend Andrea and I look a lot like early 30s, white, former sorority girls — because we are,” she said. “I’m better equipped to take that risk as a Harvard Law-educated, well-connected, visible white woman. But it’s still a risk to pull the curtain back on these processes.”

She emphasizes that not everyone needs to get arrested to contribute.

“Other people aren’t always able to do that because of the risks,” Cohen said. “Maybe they’re in mixed-status families, maybe they’re not white, maybe they can’t risk arrest. That doesn’t mean they can’t be part of this work.”

Chicago on Edge as Federal Agents Prepare Raids

Cohen’s videos are going viral at the same moment officials brace for the arrival of more than 200 federal immigration agents. Broadview’s detention facility is expected to serve as a central hub. Troops and agents are also slated for Great Lakes Naval Base in North Chicago.

Gov. JB Pritzker has warned that agents will be fully assembled by week’s end, though the exact start date of enforcement actions remains unclear.

“Chicago police will not cooperate with ICE,” Pritzker said, a promise echoed by Mayor Brandon Johnson.

Still, unease is spreading quickly.

This week, ICE agents were spotted at Cook County’s domestic violence courthouse, where two people were detained. Organizers of El Grito Chicago — a major Mexican Independence Day festival — canceled their event, citing the threat of raids. In Little Village, leaders of the 26th Street parade are considering whether to proceed.

A Community Looking for Direction

For many Chicagoans, the question is simple: what can we do? Cohen’s answer is equally direct.

“The easiest way is to show up,” she said. “The biggest barrier is just knowing where to start. Once you meet a few people, you realize you’re not powerless.”

She points to the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, which runs a hotline and needs volunteers, many of whom can contribute remotely. She also highlights Chicago Community Jail Support as an entry point for those who want to engage in mutual aid without the risk of arrest.

Cohen’s TikTok series, blending activism with accessibility, has become a tool for mobilizing a city at a crossroads. As ICE raids in Chicago approach, her message continues to spread: there are ways for everyone — from frontline protesters to behind-the-scenes supporters — to take part.

As federal agents prepare to launch ICE raids in Chicago, the city stands divided between fear and resistance. For Rachel Cohen, the fight is not only about opposing detention vans or courtroom arrests — it is about showing ordinary people that they have a role to play. Her TikTok videos, blending activism with practical guidance, are helping Chicagoans navigate a moment of uncertainty with concrete steps to support immigrant neighbors. Whether through direct protest, legal observation, or mutual aid, Cohen’s message is clear: in the face of sweeping enforcement, community action can create strength where fear once lived.

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Anti-ICE Fury Sparks Chaos in Los Angeles Streets Amid Military Crackdown

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A wave of anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles reached a boiling point on Friday, turning city streets into charged grounds of resistance and enforcement. What began as peaceful marches against deportation raids spiraled into clashes as federal agents and military forces intervened. Multiple arrests were reported, tear-like munitions were used, and the protest was declared unlawful. With chants echoing against armored shields, this unfolding drama between demonstrators and federal power marked yet another gripping episode in the nation’s ongoing immigration debate — raw, restless, and unresolved.

🔹STORY HIGHLIGHTS – WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW🔹

  • Anti-ICE demonstrations erupted again Friday in downtown Los Angeles, continuing a wave of protests that began last month.

  • Multiple arrests were confirmed by LAPD after protests turned confrontational in the evening hours.

  • Trump administration deployed National Guard troops and Marines to Los Angeles despite objections from California Governor Gavin Newsom.

  • Federal authorities used less-lethal munitions and declared the protest an unlawful assembly.

  • Independent journalists reported that riot control tactics were used as federal and military officers ordered the crowd to disperse.

What began as a series of planned protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) turned into a tense standoff in downtown Los Angeles on Friday, leading to multiple arrests and the deployment of federal force. The protests, which have been building momentum for weeks, reflect a growing wave of resistance against deportation efforts and immigration raids.

According to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), several separate demonstrations were held throughout the day in various parts of downtown. While much of the activity remained orderly during the earlier hours, authorities noted a sharp shift in tone and energy as evening set in.

“Most were peaceful,” the LAPD said in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), “but once again, as the evening approached, outside agitators began to cause issues.”

Protesters initially gathered around 9:30 a.m. outside City Hall on Spring Street. Carrying banners, chanting slogans, and marching in unity, the demonstrators followed a 1.5-mile route through the heart of the city. The gathering appeared to reflect a well-organized and determined pushback against ICE operations that many critics view as harsh and inhumane.

The protest came amid heightened federal response. Despite vocal opposition from California Governor Gavin Newsom, the Trump administration ordered the deployment of National Guard troops and even U.S. Marines to support federal operations on the ground in Los Angeles. The presence of military personnel in riot gear added an unmistakable tension to the atmosphere.

By late afternoon, federal and local authorities appeared to tighten their control over the area. The LAPD issued dispersal orders, and by 7:17 p.m. local time, the protest had been declared an unlawful assembly.

“Less Lethal munitions have been deployed by Federal authorities,” the LAPD confirmed in another post, cautioning that such methods “may cause pain and discomfort.”

The decision to use these crowd control tactics reportedly came after demonstrators began confronting both Federal Protective Security personnel and members of the National Guard. Eyewitness accounts and independent journalists at the scene noted an escalation as protesters refused to leave, prompting agents in full riot gear to begin clearing the area.

“Marines and federal agents in riot gear ordered the crowd to disperse,” wrote independent journalist Anthony Cabassa on X. “Officers from the Department of Homeland Security declared the protest an unlawful assembly.”

For many involved in the protest, the increased militarization of law enforcement in response to civilian demonstrations raised deep concerns about constitutional rights and the boundaries of federal power in civic spaces.

The day’s events mark another chapter in what has become a persistent and emotionally charged movement. As the debate over immigration enforcement continues, Friday’s clash in Los Angeles serves as a stark reminder of the tensions simmering between federal agencies and local communities.

The scenes in Los Angeles mark a volatile intersection of civil dissent and federal authority, as anti-ICE protests evolve from peaceful marches to charged confrontations. With arrests made, munitions deployed, and tensions escalating between demonstrators and government forces, the situation reflects a broader national struggle over immigration enforcement and public expression. As voices rise on both sides, the city finds itself at the heart of a growing storm — one that raises urgent questions about power, protest, and the future of public resistance in America.

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