Tag: anti-trump

“Picket the Plaza” Draws Crowds to Calder Plaza in Protest of Trump Policies

Grand Rapids, MI — Hundreds of voices rang out across Calder Plaza on Saturday afternoon April 20, 2025 as demonstrators gathered for “Picket the Plaza,” a protest against the Trump administration and what many described as a troubling direction for the country. The event, part of a nationwide day of action, drew people from all walks of life to downtown Grand Rapids in a unified call for justice, accountability, and the protection of civil rights.

Beginning with a powerful visual display, protesters lined bridges over Grand Rapids’ highways at noon, holding signs and waving to honking cars below. After an hour of peaceful bridge demonstrations, the crowd convened at Calder Plaza where the energy only grew louder.

Messages of hope, frustration, and resistance filled the air, with signs bearing slogans like “Make love more contagious than measles,” “Disarm DOGE,” and “Everyone is innocent until proven guilty.” The chants echoed through the city blocks: “Hey hey, ho ho, Donald Trump has got to go,” and “Trans rights are human rights.”

“I care about everybody,” said protester Dee Jones, eyes filled with determination. “There’s a lot of injustice, inequities, and unethical things happening not just globally, but right here in the U.S. I’m sad. I’m disappointed. I’m angry. But I can do something. I can lead, and that’s why I’m here.”

Speakers took the stage to voice deep concern over President Trump’s influence and the direction of the Republican Party. Organizer Karen Dunnam didn’t mince words: “What’s going on in the Trump regime is not normal. It needs to be stopped, adjusted, rearranged—made palatable.”

Many attendees admitted it was their first time protesting, driven by what they see as an urgent need for action. Fear of rising authoritarianism and threats to democratic norms brought them out of their homes and into the streets.

From the bridges to the plaza, from chants to speeches, the message was clear: silence is not an option. As many people boldly declared, “It’s not the time to stay home—it’s time to take action.”

Hundreds Rally in Grand Rapids for Human Rights

Marcher line up to take to the streets of Grand Rapids

GRAND RAPIDS — The streets of downtown Grand Rapids echoed with chants of “¡Sí se puede!” and “Aquí estamos” on the afternoon of Saturday, February 1, as hundreds of demonstrators gathered for the Stand Up & Fight Back rally. Organized by the Grand Rapids Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (GRAARPR), the rally aimed to highlight issues impacting marginalized communities under the current administration, particularly immigrant rights and Palestinian lives.

The demonstration began at Fountain Street Church, where local organizers and community leaders addressed the crowd before leading a march through downtown. Protesters held signs high and voiced their concerns over policies they believe disproportionately affect immigrants, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and other vulnerable groups.


Among the marchers was Marianna Silva, who attended the rally in honor of her immigrant parents. “My parents are immigrants, but it’s okay. They’re out here making the world better for me,” Silva said. “It actually makes my heart bigger. It makes my heart melt. There are so many people out here who have immigrant parents, and they’re standing in solidarity. That’s how it should always be.”

Yasmin Montoya echoed that sentiment, saying she was marching to be a voice for her parents. “I want to be their voice, since they really can’t use theirs as much as they’d like to. I’m here to advocate for them and for our community,” Montoya said. “It’s a blessing to see so many people coming together to support one another.”

For Sherlyn A., the event was an emotional experience shared across borders. “My parents came to this country legally, and they work hard every day,” she said. “I was just on FaceTime with my dad, showing him all the people who came out to support. He looked like he wanted to cry.”


The rally brought together over a dozen organizations, including Planned Parenthood, Palestine Solidarity Grand Rapids, and GR Rapid Response to ICE. Organizers emphasized the importance of unity among different movements fighting for justice.

“We have to stand in solidarity with all these different movements,” said Julian Cortez of GRAARPR. “We’ve already seen a lot of executive orders, and we see the direction this administration wants to take the country. We are standing here to say we are not going to take it.”

Cortez highlighted that the fight is far from over. “We are here standing in solidarity with the Two-Spirit LGBTQ+ community, with Palestinians, with Black lives, and with workers’ rights. This is only the beginning.”


Saturday’s rally marked the first large-scale protest in Grand Rapids since the new administration took office, but organizers made it clear it would not be the last.

“We cannot let fear make us apathetic,” one organizer told the crowd. “Let’s make 2025 the people’s year.”

As the marchers returned to Fountain Street Church, the energy remained high, with many attendees discussing ways to stay involved and continue the fight for human rights. With the momentum gained from this event, activists in Grand Rapids are making it clear: they are ready to stand up, fight back, and keep pushing for change.