Author: johnrothwellblog

John Rothwell currently resides in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he is a freelance photojournalist and reporter. In December of 2017, he finished his Communications Degree at Grand Valley State University and is currently working on adding a second degree in Multimedia Journalism. In addition to his academic work, he contributes photos, photo essays and local news coverage to The Rapidian, a hyperlocal citizen journalism platform, powered by the people of Grand Rapids. John believes that everyone has a story to tell and that story needs to be told in a medium that best suits the situation, either in photos, video, audio, word or a mixture of all. People must be informed on events happening in and around their lives and have their voices heard.

Protesters Disrupt Labor Day Walk

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Photo’s the Labor Day walk in Grand Rapids, Michigan

After a one year hiatus, the Grand Rapids Labor Day Bridge Walk was back in full stride on Monday September 4th, 2017. As hundreds of participants lined up to start the five mile walk, Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss was disrupted from addressing the crowd when she was met by protesters supporting the local Amalgamated Transit Union. She stepped back and started the walk early as a result.

The ATU has been in a contract dispute with The Rapid for over two years. Socialist Alternative Grand Rapids members came out to work with, and support the ATU in shutting down Mayor Bliss from speaking to the walkers and to bring attention to the lack of a contract.

“She is largely responsible for this union busting that is going on with The Rapid,” branch organizer of Socialist Alternative Grand Rapids Philip Snyder said. “Frankly, how dare she speak on labor day at Labor fest as a quote union supporter, when in actuality she is fighting unions every step of the way.”

As the protest was taking place, walking participants involved were booing and yelling at the protesters. Many could be overheard asking the protesters why they were disrupting a family event, what were they doing protesting on a holiday, some going as far to call the protesters anti-American and Commies.

“It was certainly ironic, but somewhat expected, that people were booing. The protest and support being held in a conservative town such as Grand Rapids (is ironic),” Snyder said. “Labor day has lost a lot of it’s meaning as a holiday for workers. It is now a long weekend to shop at sales, go to the beach, camp or a last time downtown. We are having a beer tent. People do not associate the day with labor any more.”

Walking participant Michelle Covington felt that the Mayor needed some security or a body guard, reporting her concern to the Grand Rapids Police. Shortly after, Mayor Bliss was met by Grand Rapids Police where she exited the walk on her own behalf as participants continued on.

Lupe Ramos-Montigny, walked next to the Mayor in support of labor day and general labor in the area.

“I believe in open protest, that we have the freedom of speech, but what I do not agree with is harassment.” Ramos-Montigny said.

Protesters were glad to see that mayor leave.

“It’s labor day, she’s a union buster. She (Bliss) does not belong here, so we came here and started chanting, go home Bliss, union busting is disgusting,” Local ATU member Louis Deshan said. “At Scribner and Bridge we finally blocked her at a the corner there, and she finally left. So we were like na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na, hey, hey, hey good-bye. Our goal was accomplished, we shut her down.”

Members of the ATU have been without a contract for for over two years and Mayor Bliss is a Rapids Transit board member. The board voted in favor of a merit increase for Rapid CEO Peter Varga during the August 30, 2017 board meeting where a protester was arrested .

http://www.therapidian.org/local-atu-member-arrested-rapid-board-meeting

Protester Arrested at Rapid Transit Board Meeting

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Photos from Wednesday August 30, 2017 Rapid Transit Board Meeting

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Grand Rapids police arrested Louis DeShane, Rapid Bus Driver and Amalgamated Transit Union Local 836 Union Member for trespassing at the monthly board meeting held on Wednesday, August 30.

An hour into the Rapid public board meeting members began discussing the governance report that included CEO Peter Varga’s employment evaluation, including a vote on a $4,500 merit bonus.

Board Chair Barbara Holt addressed the board by saying “We are going on to item 11 (on the meeting agenda) which is concerning the CEO evaluation. Like I said item 11, this was obviously Peter’s (Peter Varga) final review in his position of CEO.”

DeShane stood up, voiced his opposition of the merit raise for Varga by facing board members and yelling “Not today. No contract, no vote”. He rallied other activist union members, leading them in a chants of resistance before the expulsion from the room.

Two Grand Rapids police officers approached DeShane, issued a verbal warning, lead him out of the room where he stopped, spread his arms and laid down on the floor before being handcuffed. As he was being arrested for trespassing, board members adjourned the meeting, and exited the room.

The board members returned a short time later, approving Vargas merit before ending the public meeting and heading into a closed door session.

ATU members have been without a contract for the past two years and just recently voted down a contract proposal.

You can watch Louis DeShane being arrested here

What it’s like being a journalist at a Donald Trump rally: unsettling

With Donald Trump devoting many minutes of his speech in Phoenix, Arizona to his dislike and hatred of the media, I would like to share here my feelings of the time I was on the photographers platform at a Trump rally being held Late December of 2015, in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

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The Collegiate Photo Editor John Rothwell (left) stands next to local photographer Paul Jendrasiak at a Donald Trump event at the DeltaPlex Arena in December 2015

As an aspiring 50-year-old male photojournalist, I have been in some situations that have scared me.

There was the time I was on a photo stand at an indoor midget sprint car race and one of the cars crashed into the stand causing it to collapse with several of us photographers on it.

Another time I was up on a catwalk up in the rafters of an old arena trying to get an overhead shot. The catwalk did not have a secure railing and seemed to rock back and forth.

Another time I was strapped in the door gunner’s position of a Huey helicopter and the pilot kept making steep turns making me feel like I was going to fall out.

All of these situations were scary, but none of them caused the fear I felt covering the Donald Trump rally in Grand Rapids last December.

Walking into the DeltaPlex with camera equipment, I first had to go through metal detectors. My camera equipment was searched by Secret Service and then smelled by dogs. After entering the arena I was directed to a media pen about three-quarters of the way back from the stage. This area was fenced in and had risers in the front for photographers and a work area behind the risers for those using laptops and other devices.

Staking out my position on the riser I was placed next to a crew from NBC and two local photographers from Grand Rapids, covering the event for their respective publications.

As the building started to fill, I noticed that the crowd was not a representation of the America I see on a daily basis. It was an all-white crowd mostly middle aged, or older, males. Not even close to the mixtures of ages, races and genders I see around Grand Rapids.

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A panorama view of the crowd at the December 21,2015 Donald Trump Rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan

The rally began with the singing of the National Anthem, a prayer, and a local Eagle Scout display.

The crowd was getting loud and rambunctious as the announcement was made.

“Grand Rapids please welcome our next president Donald J Trump.”

Looking through the camera lens, I snapped photos as Trump took the stage repeatedly saying, “We love Michigan, We love Michigan.”

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Donald J Trump speaking at a rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, December 21, 2015

Trump worked the crowd into a frenzy with his promise to build more cars in Michigan and talking about how we as a state are going to start winning again. He also talked about Lindsey Graham leaving the race.

“Everybody that goes against us should go down the tubes,” Trump said.

As Trump continued on he started talking about how Russia’s Vladimir Putin was saying nice things about him. Trump said somebody asked him if he was offended by Putin saying nice things about him.

“No, No,” Trump replied.

This is where it started getting scary for me.

Trump went on to talk about how someone brought up the fact that Putin has killed reporters.

“I don’t like that, I am totally against that. By the way, I hate some of these people but I would never kill them…I’ll be honest I will never kill them, I would never do that…” Trump said, pausing dramatically. “No I wouldn’t. I would never kill them, but I do hate them and some of them are such lying, disgusting people. It’s true, it’s true.”

Taking in Trump’s every word, the crowd turned and looked back at us in the media pen cheering louder than they had all night.

It seemed like they, at any second, would erupt at Trump’s prompting. He didn’t say “attack!” Or “throw them out of here,” but I was truly scared for my life at that moment not knowing what was going to come next from the crowd.

Trump changed the subject to something about Hillary Clinton then as a protester raised his voice Trump started talking about how the media will only report about the protester being ejected from his rally and how the camera will only show that.

Trump demanded that the cameras show the audience and once again hundreds of his supporters turned and faced us in the media pen.

For the second time that night I was fearful again, waiting for the words of attack to come from the mouth of Donald Trump.

I do not recall much more of the stump speech he delivered that night. There was one point he did called it a “love fest.”

Looking back, I can’t help but wonder if anyone has ever felt like they were going to die at a love fest?

Grand Rapids Shows Support for Charlottesville

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Hundreds of people gathered in downtown Grand Rapids Sunday, Aug. 13, to march in solidarity and demonstrations against the violence that took place in Charlottesville, Va.

After a speaking rally at Rosa Parks Circle gatherers took to the streets, holding signs of peace, welcoming all, and denouncing white supremacy.

The group march stopped for a peace vigil that was being held in Grand Rapids’ Ah-Nab-Awen Park, before marching back to Rosa Parks Circle where candles were lit and placed at the statue of Rosa Parks to mourn the victims of the tragedy in Charlottesville.

State Games of America in Grand Rapids

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Grand Rapids, Michigan hosted the bi-annual State Games of America August 3-6, 2017. Over 12,000 athletes from all fifty U.S. states and Canada participated in a broad spectrum of over sixty sporting events. Athletes of all ages engaged in events such as archery, badminton, cricket, disc golf, fencing, gymnastics and wrestling. For results of events, please see the State Games of America website: http://stategamesofamerica.com/

Press Conference To Introduce CNG Buses Interrupted By Protesters

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The City of Grand Rapids, along with The Rapid, and other area elected officials, hosted an event to show off some of the newest buses that are powered from compressed natural gas (CNG).

The event held at the 6th Street Bridge Park was meant to showcase the new CNG buses entering the Rapids fleet to replace aging buses. It is a celebration, moving forward to less expensive gas that will be converting CNG and moving away from diesel. The new buses burn a fuel that is also a cleaner gas, better for the environment.

Elected officials and those in attendance didn’t anticipate that members of the local Amalgamated Transit Union bus driver’s union would be there to disrupt their celebration.

“It’s freedom of speech and people have the right to be heard and this is a public space” Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss said.

Working without a contract for the past two years, ATU members held signs and chanted “No Contact, No Milliage” loudly above and over the speaking officials. The failure of The Rapid board to sign a contract and how it was impacting union members was of greatest concern to the members present.

“I think CNG is definitely a step in the right direction, and they should have done it years ago,” protester Peter Ricketson said. “Maybe they could have spent forty-million dollars on this instead of the Silver Line which has been an abject failure”.

GRFC Women Win National Championship

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Photos from GRFC’s national championship win against Santa Clarita

Grandville Mi— In their first season in existence, the Grand Rapids Women’s Football Club won the United Women’s Soccer national championship.

In front of more than 1,000 people. The Ladies in Blue defeated Santa Clarita, Ca in overtime 3-1 on Saturday night at Grandville High School.

It was the second night in a that the GRFC Women (12-1-1) came back from early deficits to win the match.

Santa Clarita (9-1) came into the match with an undefeated record and was looking to defend its 2016 national title.

This is what some people had to say after the game.

“Congratulations to Grand Rapids FC on winning the United Women’s Soccer championship,” Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss said. “Winning the national title in the team’s inaugural season — and against the defending champions — is something our entire city should be proud of and celebrate.”

“This was an incredible tournament,” said UWS Commissioner Joe Ferrara, Jr. “The games were absolutely ridiculous and the atmosphere was as electric as I’ve ever seen. Women’s soccer ruled this night!”

“It’s a culmination of a summer of work that all of our players, staff, organization, coaches, everyone put work into,” said GRFC owner Matt Roberts. “I couldn’t be prouder of everybody right now.”

“What an amazing night,” said Grand Rapids FC Head Coach Lewis Robinson. “We said at half time if we get to 90 (minutes) we will win in overtime. There is no way we can lose in in 120 minutes. Our fans would make it 12 players against 11…They din’t stop singing for 30 minutes.

“It was amazing. I can’t believe that I have a medal around me neck right now,” Said GRFC Goalkeeper Reilley Ott.” I can only thank my team around me.”

“The audience is amazing, I can not even put into words how amazing Grand Rapids has been,” said said tournament MVP and GRFC defender Michaela Kovacs. “Over 1000 in attendance that’s unreal…This is easily that largest crowd I have played in front of”

Ladies in Blue Advance to the UWS Championship Match

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Photo’s from GRFC’s semifinal 3-2 Overtime win against the Long Island Roughriders

Grandville, Mi — The Grand Rapids Women’s Football Club beat the Long Island Roughriders 3-2 in a shootout in Friday’s night’s United Women’s Soccer National Championship semifinal at Grandville High School.

“What a night, what a game, what a fight. My heart is still beating, and going crazy,” said coach Lewis Robinson. “The grit, determination, and the willpower of the girls to never give up and score a goal like that with thirty second left on the clock is unreal”

GRFC overcame a two to one goal deficit during play. One in the first half, when Bethany Balcer scored on a penalty kick to even the score 1-1

“It was one of the most exciting games we have had all season” said Long Island Head Coach Adam Whitehead.

The final tying goal came in the waning minutes of overtime when Michaela Kovacs scored on a diving header to send the game to a shootout.

“Anna (Stinson) played a terrific ball, just amazing. I got me head on it,” said Kovacs. I was not to confident with the feet so if I went with my head knowing that something would hit it in”.

GRFC goaltender Reilley Ott stopped two Roughrider shootout kicks to give GRFC a stunning comeback win.

“Final overtime, we finally got it, I couldn’t believe it, I was astounded, and to go down to PK’s,” said Ott. “In PK’s you do what ever you can to throw them off their game.”

GRFC will host the national title game Saturday, July 22, at 7:30 p.m., also at Grandville High School. GRFC, 11-1-1 overall and playing in its inaugural season, will take on defending national champion Santa Clarita (9-0) in the finals. Santa Clarita defeated Detroit Sun FC 3-0 in Friday’s opening game.

Granth Dindi in Grand Rapids

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Over the weekend of July 7th, Grand Rapids played host to over 3,000 Hindus hailing from the Indian state of Maharashtra for a conference of the Bruhan Maharashtra Madal of North America.

On Saturday, July 8th, members performed what is known as “Granth Dindi”, a colorful parade featuring dancers, drummers & other entertainers. This was the first time a Hindu Granth Dindi was performed in the U.S.

New shoes lead to a Hat trick and a 3-0 win For GRFC’s Women’s Team

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Photos from GRFC’s Women’s match against the Detroit Sun FC

The Grand Rapids Football Club women’s team defeated the visiting Detroit Sun FC, 3-0 on Sunday afternoon at Grandville High School..

“Today they were just better than us,” DSFC coach Skip Mukhtar said, “They controlled a majority of the game.”

The first half saw Grand Rapids attack the DCFC zone often, only to see them missing on several shots. Both teams ended the half in a scoreless tie.

“It was a pretty cagey and defensive games for the first 50 minutes, where I think both teams didn’t want to give too much away.” Said GRFC coach Lewis Robinson.

The second half saw Grand Rapids pushing the zone DSFC even more and finally in the 74th minute GRFC’s Bethany Balcer put her first of three in the net to break the scoreless tie.

“I broke my shoes Friday so I had to get new shoes for this game,” Balcer said, “Every Time I am on the field I have to play like it is the last time I am going to see the field.”

GRFC’s women return to action on Friday, June 30th against Fort Wayne United The match is scheduled to kickoff at 7:00 p.m.