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.
GRAND RAPIDS TOWNSHIP, MI — On Wednesday July 25th, more than two dozen people protesting Kent County’s contract with ICE gathered in Manhattan Park before marching down Morningside Drive SE to the house of Jim Saalfeld, board chairman of the Kent County board of commissions.
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Photos from the protest
Protesters chanted and left signs in Saalfeld’s yard calling him a coward and demanding the county end its contract with ICE.
Neighbors could be seen videoing the protest, one neighbor showed up on a moped to complain that the groups noise was disrupting his family’s swimming time.
Several Kent County Sheriff deputies arrived on the scene to keep on eye on the protest. No arrest were made.
he Grand Rapids City Commission voted 6-0 on Tuesday, July 24, 2018 to appoint Nathaniel Moody to fill the Third Ward seat vacated by the resignation of David Allen last month.
Tuesday night’s vote followed interviews with the three finalists: Ryan Anderson, Austin Dean, and Moody that had been held earlier in the day.
The City Commission previously said it would make an appointment in a special meeting on July 31. The decision to appoint a new commissioner came at the very end of Tuesday night’s meeting. Commissioners were in the closing part of the meeting sharing their final thoughts when the decision was made not to wait until next week.
Not expecting a vote until next week, Moody was surprised yet glad that the vote was taken and the vacancy filled Tuesday night.
Moody was sworn in immediately following the appointment.
Commissioner Moody is looking forward now to sitting down with fellow Third Ward commissioner Senita Lenear to put their thoughts together, look at the plans the city has for the Third Ward and continue to push those plans to create new things. Hoping to bring better economics, better education and making sure the third ward continues to grow are on Moody’s agenda.
“To the residents of the third ward I think at this point and time as i take this seat I am hopping with thought that as we continue to grow, that we look forward to some new and exciting changes to occur,” Moody said.
According to a press release from the city, Commissioner Moody is senior pastor of Brown Hutcherson Ministries. He also serves on the Children’s Advocacy Council, Grand Rapids Community College Foundation Board and Grand Rapids Area Association of Pastors. He is a former member of the Grand Rapids Public Schools Board of Education, Police Chief Advisory Committee and Grand Rapids Urban League, among other boards and committees. He is a lifelong resident of Grand Rapids and has been married to his wife, Laura Moody, for 39 years. The couple have four children and four grandchildren.
In his application, Commissioner Moody pointed to his experience serving on boards with diverse people and addressing such issues as community and police relations, lead poisoning, affordable housing and racism.
Commissioner Moody will join the City Commission at the manager candidate interviews, set for 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 31 in the ninth-floor Commission Chambers at City Hall.
Grand Rapids Police arrested seven protesters for blocking the intersection of Michigan Street NW and Ottawa Avenue on June 28, 2018.
The protesters were part of Movimiento Cosecha GR and had earlier been protesting at the Kent County Board of Commissioners’ meeting, demanding that the county end it’s contract with ICE.
After leaving the Board of Commissioners’ meeting, around 100 people marched peacefully to the Office of ICE where a short protest took place before returning to Calder Plaza.On the march back, seven members of Movimiento Cosecha GR broke off and blocked the intersection of Michigan and Ottawa by sitting down in the road. The members waited for the larger group of protesters to peacefully and legally cross the intersection, intentional to not actively involve any people that came voluntarily to the protest.
All seven were arrested by The Grand Rapids Police Department and taken to the Kent County Jail.
A small group of protesters gathered on the sidewalk across from Bethany Christian Services, on Wednesday June 20, 2018 demanding that Bethany end their federal contract with the Office of Refugees until at least ICE stops separating families.
Bethany Christian is currently assisting displaced children that have been separated from their families at the Southern United States Border.
“The board at Bethany Christian needs to end the contract,” protest organizer Katy Steele Barone said. “The system is not meant for kids who are purposely taken away from their parents, this system is meant to find homes for those who do not have parents.”
According to the their website, Grand Rapids, Michigan based, Bethany Christian Services is a “global nonprofit organization that brings families together and keeps families together. Strengthening families for the well-being of children is our top priority. Our services include adoption, foster care, and pregnancy counseling. We also provide counseling to families, assist refugees and immigrants resettling in the U.S., and partner with several international countries to help keep families together. The work we do equips families to be the answer for children in need—as Christ intended”.
Steele Barone added that taking children and shipping them across the country makes us a part of the problem and she doesn’t want to be a part of the problem, she wants to be a part of the solution.
As part of the Asian Pacific Festival Week in Grand Rapids, Michigan, The Event Sake, Sushi and Sumo was held on Friday, June 8, 2018 at the J.W. Marriott. This was the first time such an event like this has been held in Grand Rapids.
Grand Rapids immigrant rights group, Movimiento Cosecha GR, held a vigil and march Saturday, June 2, 2018 for the National Day of Mourning.
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The Group put out a statement saying, “We mourn the loss of our children’s safety and innocence. We mourn those lost at the border, deserts, and in detention. We mourn those murdered by the immigration system. We mourn, but that won’t stop us from taking action. Join us June 2 on a vigil and a procession for the murder by the border patrol of Claudia Patricia Gómez González a 19 years old Guatemalan girl.
Gathering at Rosa Parks Circle marchers went down Monroe Avenue and up Pearl Street and the Festival of the Arts. They were confronted by several police who redirected them from marching through the festival. The group continued to march up Pearl and across Division Avenue and back down Monroe Center to Rosa Parks Circle for a candlelight vigil.
More than 1,000 people showed up at Roosevelt Park on May 1, 2018 to march from the Park to Grand Rapids City Hall in support of immigration rights.
“Today is International Workers Day, we are marching for the protection, dignity and respect of the 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the United states,” said march volunteer Jose Jimenez.
Organized by Movimiento Cosecha GR, this year the march was about the community coming together, and to march in support of drivers licenses for all.
“We believe that we contribute to this economy,” Jimenez said. “Our community deserves the right to drive without the fear of being deported and being separated from their families.”
Marching north on Grandville Avenue, organizers followed the route that the Grand Rapids Police Department wanted them to take, until they made an unexpected left turn on a side street near Founders. The marchers then turned right onto Market St where they were able to shut down the on and off ramps to US 131 for several minutes, causing traffic to back up onto the freeway.
Marching in solidarity was Tommy Allen, Grand Rapids Community Relations Commission member. “We have heard many reports from the community, especially the community that is marching here today, that there are real concerns with ICE”.
Marchers then made their way through downtown before ending at Calder Plaza.
“The march was successful,” Organizer Karla Barberi said. “It is not easy to live with fear everyday, We want everybody in our community to live without fear.”
Wyoming, Michigan – Over a hundred protesters gathered outside of the Michigan Secretary of State’s Office located inside of Rogers Plaza demanding that drivers licences be made available to everyone,
Loud Latino music was played as organizers spoke over a portable public address system as others chanted that driver’s license should be made available to everyone regardless of immigration stats.
Protesters managed to enter the Secretary of State’s office for a short period of time but were pushed back by security.
After leaving the building protesters gathered in the parking lot to again try to have their voices heard.
A Wyoming polce spokes person said that no arrest were made.
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