Anti-Trump protests still taking place most days in metro Detroit

Tracee Guibord and the inflatable male genitalia she brings alongside are arduous to overlook at a protest.

The 5½-foot-tall inflatable is adorned with handcuffs, a Lady Scouts sash and a pretend head of hair meant to imitate the hair of President Donald Trump. And Guibord, a former police officer and firefighter, usually dons the navy jacket of her World Conflict II veteran father for the endeavor.

Guibord, 67, of West Bloomfield, grew to become a well-known face in September 2025 when the Detroit Free Press got down to go to no less than one protest a day for per week in metro Detroit.

Whereas mass protests with tons of to hundreds have gathered to denounce the president since he retook workplace, extra common protests with anti-Trump sentiments are additionally happening virtually every day in metro Detroit. Smaller teams of 5, 40 or a bit of underneath 100 folks collect routinely with posters, chants and, typically, retorts for passing motorists who assist the president.

Almost 9 months into the trouble and Trump’s second administration, the Free Press got down to be taught who these protesters are, why they maintain protesting and what they suppose they will obtain with their efforts at this level inside a state that put Trump in workplace and when the White Home has beforehand indicated that protests will not sway Trump from delivering on his guarantees.

Guibord was considerably of an outlier amongst protesters together with her extravagant prop, controversial amongst some protesters by her telling, and her dialogue on the convicted intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein. Nevertheless, many attendees have been fellow retired suburban white ladies like Guibord, who hadn’t protested a lot earlier than this 12 months however have been now doing so frequently, even a number of occasions per week.

Different attendees have been white males, an immigrant, folks of colour, a transgender particular person, a job seeker, white-collar staff or dad and mom.

Many mentioned they have been involved with assaults on democracy — and reality.

Some reported being Republicans as soon as upon a time. Some have been longtime Democrats. Some mentioned they opted out of voting for president in 2024.

White Home spokeswoman Abigail Jackson referred to them as “leftists” in an emailed assertion. She mentioned liberals are free to train their proper to protest.

Nevertheless, she known as the protesters’ considerations “lies” and mentioned whereas they “waste their time” spreading these, “President Trump will proceed delivering win after win for the American folks.”

Michigan Republican Occasion Chair state Sen. Jim Runestad, R-White Lake, additionally expressed indignation relating to the takes on democracy being underneath assault and mentioned some protester considerations have been derived from information media lies.

Some protesters additionally used phrases like “fascism” and “Nazis” when discussing the state of the nation. Runestad mentioned the “evil” assaults are the definitions Democrats use for individuals who disagree with them.

“They’re hardcore activists and leftists,” he mentioned of the common protesters. “They need dominant energy management, and so they’re dropping it, and so they can sense it, and so they’re outraged … so that they’re not going to cease.”

On that final half — that the protesters received’t cease — these the Free Press met appeared to agree.

Editor’s be aware: Extra protests have been scheduled within the area and state for the week of Sept. 7-13 than might be attended. Matters of different protests included gender-affirming look after transgender people and starvation in Gaza. The Free Press went to the location of a protest listed on-line Tuesday, Sept. 9, however discovered nobody current. The closest political social gathering alignment listed under is predicated on descriptions from the topic interviewed. Issues listed don’t represent full lists.

Sunday, Sept. 7 – Rochester Hills protest

• On the nook of 4 precincts that went for Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in 2024. Precincts that went for Trump by various margins aren’t too far. Trump received Michigan in 2024 with virtually 50% of the votes. Harris received Oakland County with 54% of the vote.
• Organized by Arise. Combat again. Southeastern Michigan, each different week
• About 50 attendees

Monica Kloc, 35, of Rochester Hills

Creator of the Stand Up. Combat again. Southeastern Michigan group

Leftist

“This isn’t the one factor that should occur to ensure that change to be made, however this is likely one of the locations the place it begins.”

Monica Kloc began her activist group, Arise. Combat again. Southeastern Michigan, early in 2025 to be an data hub on protests. Then, she determined to start out organizing once more.

She prefers her grassroots work, saying it has confirmed profitable traditionally and that whereas she appreciates the work of huge protest organizers, her values don’t align with theirs. At her protests, she will be able to make certain that nobody is policing signage or language.

Issues: Fascism, Palestine, LGBTQ+ rights, and Nationwide Guard deployment in cities. She desires to encourage like-minded folks to search out their voice and use it the place they really feel snug.

Protest background: Internet hosting each different week since March 2025; protested in reference to the landmark Supreme Court docket ruling on abortion, Roe v. Wade, being overturned

Why maintain protesting? “What’s taking place in our nation hasn’t stopped. … So we will not cease both.”

Diane Nork, 77, of Rochester Hills

Democrat since voting for President Barack Obama; voted Republican earlier than Obama however was an impartial

Diane Nork remembers her childhood neighbor getting polio earlier than vaccines have been out there. They’d been taking part in collectively.

She’s fortunate she by no means received it, she mentioned. She thinks U.S. Well being and Human Providers Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., along with his historical past of vaccine skepticism, must be ousted.

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“What do we would like, polio again once more?” she mentioned.

In an announcement to the Free Press, a spokesman for Kennedy’s division spoke of Kennedy’s dedication to evidence-based science.

Issues: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., vaccines, sending Nationwide Guard to Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., however not in the course of the Jan. 6, 2021, riot on the U.S. Capitol. She desires extra folks to talk up, to get Republican lawmakers to hearken to their constituents, and to get extra Democrats elected within the midterm elections.

Protest background: Three in 2025, none earlier than.

Why maintain protesting? “You’ll be able to’t cease.” She’ll be out till the climate will get dangerous after which again subsequent 12 months if wanted.

Christel Geppert, 72, of Oakland Township

Democrat

Christel Geppert, a retiree, is frightened for her grandchildren from Guatemala. They’re naturalized residents who have been adopted however she’s scared they’ll get scooped up in Trump’s immigration crackdown.

Geppert can be an immigrant herself, from Germany. Her household got here to the USA in 1979 on the behest of her husband’s firm. Her daughter needed to remain thereafter.

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Geppert feels there are echoes of the Nazism that when took over her fatherland now taking part in out in the USA.

Issues: Immigrant therapy, deportation with out due course of, Medicaid, Nationwide Guard deployment on cities, and “the hate that has developed on this nation.”

Protest background: 30 in 2025; beforehand in Germany in her college days.

Why maintain protesting? “I’m not giving up. I believe there’s hope and our energy is within the numbers and to be round like-minded individuals who suppose such as you.”

Susan and Joe Brainovich, 69 and 66, of Rochester

Her: Democrat / Him: Democrat, however voted Republican earlier than Trump

Susan and Joe Brainovich, of their Detroit Lions gear, stopped to speak simply earlier than the staff’s first sport of the season was set to start out. Their son works in authorities, and that spurred their curiosity in activism.

“We really feel prefer it’s the one factor we will do proper now to eliminate our anger about every thing that is happening,” Susan Brainovich mentioned of protesting.

“This time, he’s uncontrolled,” Joe Brainovich mentioned of Trump, saying the president is attempting to take extra energy.

Issues: What Trump calls his “large, stunning invoice,” Nationwide Guard takeovers, and immigration. “If one or two extra folks become involved because of this right this moment, then it was a hit,” Joe Brainovich mentioned.

Protest background: At the very least 15 this 12 months, none earlier than

Why maintain protesting? Individuals can’t let up.

Monday, Sept. 8 – Waterford protest

• On the nook of three precincts in Oakland County, two that went for Harris and one for Trump. The situation sits on roughly a dividing line between county precincts north and west that went for Trump and people south and east that went for Harris.
• Weekly protest launched by chair of Waterford Democratic Membership
• About 40 attendees

Steve Flora, 72, of White Lake

Democrat

Steve Flora can see the way it is perhaps straightforward to suppose Trump is an efficient resolution if one isn’t paying shut consideration and is just voting on a “vibe.”

He hopes folks will surprise why, as a retiree, he’s out protesting as a substitute of sitting on his deck and a lake, and that they then listen.

“It doesn’t take many extra to swing issues the other approach and it’s solely a small variety of those that want to concentrate and understand that they’ve made a giant mistake and to flip the opposite approach.”

Issues: Democracy, particularly as a result of points like ladies’s and minority rights can’t be addressed with out it; due course of in immigration enforcement, and Nationwide Guard deployment to main cities. If the Nationwide Guard involves Detroit, he’ll be throwing himself in entrance of automobiles, he mentioned.

Protest background: Double-digit attendance in 2025, others going again to his faculty days

Why maintain protesting? “It’s essential to attempt to get folks to consider what’s happening.”

Evelyn Thompson, 72, of Waterford

Democrat

Evelyn Thompson, a retiree, desires to verify her granddaughter grows up with the identical rights she had. And she or he notes, protesters are out for a purpose. Not as a result of they don’t have anything else to do.

Trump’s actions are towards every thing Thompson stands for, she mentioned.

“We’ve the ability. We will take the ability from him.”

Issues: Human rights, ladies’s rights, well being care, and schooling. She desires to succeed in these unaware of what’s taking place, wake them up and get them to vote within the subsequent midterm elections.

Protest background: Has attended each protest with this group since roughly Might, none earlier than.

Why maintain protesting? “As a result of we all know that it’s working.” She says totally different individuals are all the time coming to the protest.

Wednesday, Sept. 10 – Livonia protest

• Harris received Wayne County with 62% of the vote in 2024. Livonia has since modified precinct maps on-line, however Harris received town with about 49% of the vote, in line with the unofficial outcomes nonetheless on town web site.
• A weekly pop-up protest centered on immigration
• 8 attendees

Joan Pence, 67, of Plymouth

Coordinator for Western Wayne Indivisible

Democrat, however has voted for Republicans at occasions beforehand

Not lengthy after a push alert got here out that conservative activist Charlie Kirk had been fatally shot, Joan Pence famous the information media protection and mentioned a lot of the public will study it.

However until the general public is consuming extra various sources of media, they could not have heard {that a} father was reportedly detained by immigration enforcement brokers in Ann Arbor after dropping his youngster off in school in September, she mentioned.

Immigration officers said the individual was later released and that brokers didn’t strategy college property, The Ann Arbor News reported.

“If extra of those folks spent a while truly studying from a number of media to be taught what’s actually happening, I believe it could change their standpoint and that might be a very good factor for us to have occur,” Pence mentioned.

Issues: Lack of due course of in deportations, and no discrimination between these being ousted. She hopes passersby will go residence and search for extra data on the subject. She famous Trump’s margin for victory for the presidency was small.

Protest background: Two or three per week frequently in 2025; beforehand for girls’s rights and a nuclear weapons freeze marketing campaign

Why maintain protesting?  “If they will take this nation, they will take it over my lifeless physique,” she mentioned.

Invoice Heitman, 75, of Plymouth Township

Democrat

When it’s said that Trump received Michigan, Invoice Heitman cuts in to make clear that Trump didn’t win the state each time.

And Heitman factors to the variety of folks which have been drawn to nationwide protests, saying continued development and vitality would possibly affect lawmakers. He mentioned he learn an article the identical week reporting {that a} state senator in a special state had flipped parties to be a Democrat.

Issues: What he described as Trump bending guidelines to satisfy his wants, tax cuts for the wealthy, voting laws, and deportations. Heitman desires to succeed in like-minded folks to indicate them they aren’t alone, get them to concentrate, probably be a part of, and make change on the midterm elections.

Protest background: Two or 3 times per week frequently in 2025; the Vietnam Conflict beforehand

Why maintain protesting? It’s not straightforward, as he has different issues to do, “however so long as these individuals are going to be out right here, I’ll come out and assist them.”

Thursday, Sept. 11 – West Bloomfield

• This Oakland County precinct went to Harris, with about 60% of the vote. Others close by had even greater percentages for Harris, and nonetheless others close by went to Trump.
• Weekly protest exterior Tesla with ties to native Democratic membership and different protest teams
• About 15 attendees

John Coski, 70, of Troy

Voted Democrat in recent times, was a Republican till writing in whistleblower Edward Snowden in 2016.

When John Coski was in class, he thought American democracy was strong. It’s not what he as soon as thought, and it’s tough to completely restore all the weather of a democracy as soon as authoritarianism begins to creep in, he mentioned.

People must vote in representatives who will signify democracy “initially,” he mentioned.

“Insurance policies matter far lower than preserving our democracy. If we lose it, insurance policies can be meaningless. If we protect it, we will argue about coverage later.”

Issues: Democracy and Nationwide Guard deployment on People. He desires to succeed in centrists and people who find themselves uneducated on the problems to lift the alarm. “An informed populace is the enemy of autocracy.”

Protest background: About 1½ protests per week since January, none prior.

Why maintain protesting? “We’re attempting to lift consciousness. We’re attempting to make folks perceive we’re dropping our democracy. And a visual presence is likely one of the strongest ways in which we will do it proper now.”

Sidney Chait, 67, of Farmington Hills

Left of Democrats, however votes Democrat

Sidney Chait began the common protest exterior the Tesla in West Bloomfield when he realized there have been none in his native space. Plus, he was alarmed by tech billionaire Elon Musk’s involvement with the Division of Authorities Effectivity.

He nonetheless holds protests on the automobile firm location related to Musk as a result of Musk financially backed Trump’s presidency and has spoken of beginning a brand new social gathering. And Chait feels the information media is ignoring folks on the road protesting the work of the Trump administration.

“I believe that if all you probably did was watch or hearken to the most important company information stations, you wouldn’t know that otherwise you would vastly underestimate the quantity that individuals are against it and truly resisting it.”

Issues: Democracy, fascism and immigration enforcement. “It’s straightforward to really feel the state of affairs is hopeless,” however he desires folks to know there are those that vehemently oppose Trump. He desires independents to vote for change on the midterms and thinks a groundswell of opposition may encourage Republicans to face as much as Trump.

Protest background: A number of per week for a number of months, numerous beforehand for points like apartheid and the Gulf Conflict.

Why maintain protesting? “Issues are getting worse, not higher.”

Friday, Sept. 12 – Hazel Park

Pedestrian bridge No. 1

• Harris received this precinct in Oakland County with 61% of the vote, however the spots are over a freeway with vehicles and commuters.
• Weekly Visibility Brigade protest organized by Indivisible member.
• 5 attendees.

Mary Johns, 71, of Troy

Bridge protest coordinator

Unbiased, began altering vote from Republican over final decade

Mary Johns and her husband had deliberate to hold an indication Friday calling for the ousting of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. from his function as secretary of well being and human providers. Nevertheless, following the loss of life of Charlie Kirk, they modified their indicators dealing with north and south on a pedestrian bridge in Hazel Park to say, “Cease Political Violence.”

They’ve so many indicators with letters from prior protests that they solely needed to make a brand new “L” signal to make the change. Vans and even a police automobile appeared to honk as they drove beneath.

After beginning the common protest — virtually by chance whereas attempting to attend a special one — they determined it could be a part of the Visibility Brigade effort, which incorporates guidelines like PG-13 language solely. Mary Johns doesn’t imagine language just like the “f” phrase will assist de-escalate, join or affect others.

Issues: Democracy, deportations with out due course of, reality, tariffs and voting legal guidelines. She hopes to succeed in folks on the fence, nonvoters, the apolitical and Trump voters who’ve began to be affected by their decisions. She hopes to encourage them to vote in another way subsequent time.

Protest background: As much as three per week frequently in 2025, none earlier than.

Why maintain protesting? “We received to — I hate to say it — however save our nation.”

Brenda Pack, 58, of Ferndale

Democrat, however a Republican earlier than the 2000s

Brenda Pack leaned a cane up on the facet of the bridge after making her approach up the ramp to the pedestrian bridge protest.

She wants knee surgical procedure, she mentioned. She needed to attend extra protests this 12 months however bodily couldn’t. She’s involved that Trump desires to be a king, not a president, and pointed to the Jan. 6, 2021, riot on the U.S. Capitol. A retiree, she’d even be personally impacted by any modifications to Social Safety, she mentioned.

“I simply saved feeling like I used to be presupposed to be doing one thing and I discovered it and I do not know if it’s going to do any good,” Pack mentioned, her voice unsteady for a second earlier than she added: “however we’re attempting like hell.”

Issues: Democracy, Medicaid, Medicare and Social Safety. She hopes to succeed in nonvoters, the apolitical and Trump voters, and urge folks to analysis, vote within the midterms and name these in energy.

Protest background: Three in 2025, none earlier than.

Why maintain protesting? “He retains doing increasingly more. We have to do increasingly more.” She says she is aware of of some Trump voters that now remorse their vote.

Pedestrian bridge No. 2

A second bridge protest was seen from the primary, and protesters leaving the location famous they’d had indicators that mentioned “No Fascism” on one facet dealing with the freeway beneath.

Right here, the Free Press spoke to a lady carrying a transgender satisfaction flag who mentioned she was the mom of a transgender son. After, she requested that her title not be used out of concern for her son, citing the local weather within the wake of the loss of life of Charlie Kirk.

The Free Press doesn’t usually embrace nameless sources in its reporting aside from in uncommon circumstances. This was the second time in the course of the week that the Free Press interviewed somebody within the transgender or transgender ally neighborhood who expressed concern for private security in the event that they have been recognized.

Saturday, Sept. 13 – Berkley protest

• Harris received the precinct right here with 65% of the vote and surrounding precincts additionally went for Harris.
• Organized by We The Individuals, Democracy Defenders
• Nearly 100 attendees

Brandon Jozlin, 38, of Huntington Woods

Democrat

“Fact is underneath assault.”

Brandon Jozlin needed his two younger sons, Remy, 8, and Casey, 5, to see democracy in motion. The household had a dialogue about values because the boys selected their indicators for the Berkley gathering. He and his household have been amongst a handful of youthful attendees that day, and one in all a number of households who attended.

“You sit on the sofa and also you have a look at the every day information and also you ask your self, ‘what can I do?’ ” he mentioned. Unprecedented occasions led him to a brand new expertise in protesting, he mentioned.

Issues: Well being care, autism and vaccine misinformation, and public schooling. He hopes extra folks get linked and to get folks out to vote within the subsequent election.

Protest background: A number of this 12 months, none prior.

Why maintain protesting? “For all of the individuals who suppose that they’re alone. Issues are getting worse. It’s extra necessary than ever that individuals perceive that not everyone seems to be snug with this.”

Bella Fernández, 26, of Berkley

Democrat, however extra progressive

“The hope for me is not that we will seriously change something at this level. I believe it is extra so simply attempting to mitigate the harm as a lot as potential as a result of I believe issues might be rather a lot worse than they’re already. I believe issues may worsen rather a lot sooner.”

Bella Fernández has household, colleagues, mates and former college students who’re immigrants. She’s a graduate scholar and graduate teacher, she mentioned, and has taught each Spanish and English as a second language.

The crackdown by immigration brokers is “horrifying” and she or he believes due course of is being overridden. She additionally is anxious with assaults on public schooling and mentioned, given modifications in her area, it’s not real looking or viable for her to pursue a doctorate.

Issues: “Erosion of our democracy,” immigration enforcement and public schooling. She hopes to succeed in the undecided, the centrists and the apolitical to get folks out to vote or vote in another way on the midterms.

Protest background: Roughly fifth protest this 12 months, beforehand protested throughout Trump’s first time period.

Why maintain protesting? Public assist is the primary leverage, given the Republican takeover throughout the branches of presidency. “We will not simply lay down and settle for that that is the brand new regular.”

Saturday, Sept. 13 – Detroit protest

• Harris received Detroit with 90% of the vote, however received fewer votes within the metropolis than previous Democratic candidates.
• Protest organized by Comité de Acción Comunitaria – Detroit to make Detroit a sanctuary metropolis and marking Mexican independence day
• Eight attendees

Daanyal Syed, 23, of Troy

A part of the steering committee for the Detroit Anti-Conflict Committee

No political social gathering

The official response to school encampments searching for divestment from Israel moved Daanyal Syed to protest extra frequently on the finish of 2024 as a scholar. Syed felt that officers needed them to be silent. They couldn’t simply sit round.

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On Sept. 13, as one of many first U.S.-born members of a household of immigrants, Syed marched via the streets of southwest Detroit with seven others, calling for Detroit to change into a sanctuary metropolis that doesn’t cooperate in any approach with federal immigration enforcement.

Reaching the purpose received’t be straightforward, however that ought to encourage “attempting even tougher,” Syed mentioned.

Issues: Immigration, making Detroit a sanctuary metropolis, and Nationwide Guard deployment in main cities. They need to see extra neighborhood involvement and the USA not funding wars or genocides. Additionally they need to present solidarity with these in southwest Detroit, to indicate they’re welcome.

Protest background: At the very least each different week since September 2024; protested with Black Lives Matter beforehand.

Why maintain protesting? “We nonetheless must.”

Kassandra Rodriguez, 25, of Detroit

Chair and co-founder of Comité de Acción Comunitaria – Detroit (Detroit Group Motion Committee)

Socialist

With a megaphone in hand, Kassandra Rodriguez led her small group of protesters via the streets of southwest Detroit chanting, “The folks united won’t ever be defeated.”

Detroit police have mentioned they don’t support with immigration enforcement however that they are going to have officers go to a scene to take care of decorum. Rodriguez considers {that a} “rip-off.” She hopes not solely to make Detroit a sanctuary metropolis, however to encourage different midsize and smaller cities to take such motion.

It may be intimidating to step into the streets as a smaller group with no crowd to dissolve into. However smaller protests could also be extra necessary than large ones, she argued.

“The neighborhood will get to see that there are folks prepared to take the streets and defend them irrespective of the numbers.”

Issues: Making Detroit a sanctuary metropolis and deportation with out due course of. She desires to succeed in those that care concerning the legislation and locals who can pack metropolis conferences and demand a sanctuary metropolis from their council members.

Protest background: A number of occasions per week in 2025, additionally in prior years.

Why maintain protesting? The problems have but to be addressed, irrespective of who has been in workplace.

Free Press workers author Clara Hendrickson contributed to this report.