HOUGHTON -- "This is what Democracy Looks Like" was one of the energetic chants that kicked off the April 5 "Hands Off!" protest in Houghton's Bridgeview Park as participants waited to hear from inspiring, energetic guest speakers and to march across the Portage Lift Bridge with signs expressing their opposition to the present policies of the Trump-Musk Administration.
On Saturday, April 5, 2025, a large crowd gathers at Bridgeview Park in Houghton, Michigan, to hear speakers as the "Hands Off!" protest, organized by Keweenaw Indivisible, begins. Alex Radke of the Keweenaw Indivisible leadership team leads chants to warm up the crowd. (Video by Keweenaw Now)The local protest, organized by Keweenaw Indivisible, was one of more than 1,300 events held that day in 50 states and Washington, DC.
Local resident Elizabeth Flynn, professor emerita in Humanities at Michigan Tech University, said this Copper Country protest was the largest march she's ever seen here.
"There were people on both sides of the bridge," Flynn noted. "Inspiring speakers. Hands off! Great job, Indivisible."
Flynn also commented on the noisy Trump supporters who drove by the protesters several times.
"About 12 cars with Trump flags tried to disrupt, but they had little effect," she said. "Some honked horns, which seemed like support for the marchers."
The first speaker, Rich Canevez, Michigan Tech assistant professor of Communication, Culture, and Media in the Humanities Department and one of the seven members of the Keweenaw Indivisible leadership team, spoke about growing up in Houghton as an American in a Filipino immigrant family and finding friends who became a second family for him.
Rich Canevez, American son of Filipino immigrants, speaks about his experience with racism and the friends who stood by him like a family. (Video by Keweenaw Now)Canevez continued, noting the importance of family and unity.
Rich Canevez speaks to the crowd of participants about resisting Trump and Musk together like a family. (Video by Keweenaw Now)The next speaker -- Sarah Semmler Smith, pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Campus Ministry at Michigan Tech -- described growing up in a German American family that did not want to identify as German because of the history of World War II. She draws a parallel with what is happening in America under the present Administration.
Sarah Semmler Smith, pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Campus Ministry at Michigan Tech University, tells participants in the "Hands Off!" protest why the policies of this Administration go against the Constitution and religious freedom, as well as the teachings of Jesus. (Video by Keweenaw Now)Frank Fiala of Hancock introduced himself to the protesters as a "proud retired federal employee of the National Park Service" as well as a proud veteran, noting he has sworn allegiance to the Constitution on several occasions. As a second-generation American, Fiala noted the sacrifice and hard work of his immigrant grandparents, that made his own life possible. He described the treatment of federal employees and agencies by the present Administration as defying the rule of law.
Frank Fiala, longtime federal employee with the National Park Service, addresses the crowd of protesters concerning the illegal and immoral actions of the present US Administration. (Video by Keweenaw Now)Displaying her "Hands Off!" poster, Nadija Packauskas, co-founder of Yoopers for Ukraine and also a member of the Keweenaw Indivisible leadership team, spoke especially about children and why we should stand for our children, our humanity and our allies, including Ukraine, where so many children have died.
Nadija Packauskas, co-founder of Yoopers for Ukraine, speaks with passion about our humanity and our need to speak for our children. "Trump and Musk, hands off our humanity!" she says. Noting the importance of standing for Ukraine and our other allies, Nadija reads the names of nine children who were killed recently when Russia bombed a children's playground. (Video by Keweenaw Now)Introducing herself as a member of the world of sports, Mariah Durham, Michigan Tech women's basketball coach and a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, rallied the crowd as she would her team, stressing the need for teamwork and unity in resisting the Trump-Musk attacks on education.
Mentioning her Anishinaabe ancestors who were murdered here for this land, Mariah Durham gives an energetic speech about teamwork and the right to education to the crowd of protesters at Bridgeview Park in Houghton. (Video by Keweenaw Now)Later, Durham spoke with Keweenaw Now about her reason for giving the speech.
"I'm an educator here speaking out and speaking among other educators -- that what is going on in today's world is just not acceptable, not acceptable for the kids that I teach at our school and not acceptable anywhere," Durham said. "I think that we all need to stand up -- we all need to stand together and be one as a team."
Following the inspiring speeches, the protesters marched on Shelden Avenue to the Lift Bridge, where they crossed to Hancock and back, filling the sidewalks on both sides of the bridge.
Displaying signs, posters and flags, participants in the April 5, 2025, "Hands Off!" protest head for the Lift Bridge, for their march to Hancock and back. (Video by Keweenaw Now)According to Rick Canevez of the Keweenaw Indivisible leadership team, two to four volunteers joined the leadership team the day before the protest to clear the ice from the steps up to the bridge on the west side in order to make it safe for the marchers.
"We only had to clear the west side of the bridge, but it was covered in ice so it took a fair amount of labor on Friday afternoon," Canevas said. "We could have used an extra pickaxe or two!"
"Hands Off!" participants line both sides of the Portage Lift Bridge from Houghton to Hancock, MI, displaying their signs and flags to oncoming traffic. (Video © John Peiffer for Keweenaw Now)On the Houghton side of the bridge, a drone could be seen flying near the bridge, possibly counting the numbers of protesters. The drone was not associated with Keweenaw Indivisible. As of this publication time the exact count was not available, though estimates were around 500.
On the Portage Lift Bridge, a drone is seen at upper left of this video, possibly counting the large crowd of participants, estimated at nearly 500. The drone is not associated with Keweenaw Indivisible. (Video © John Peiffer for Keweenaw Now)At the Houghton end of the bridge, Barry Elizabeth Fink, co-president of the Copper Country League of Women Voters, spoke with Keweenaw Now about the importance of voting. The League partnered with Keweenaw Indivisible in promoting the event.
Barry Elizabeth Fink, co-president of the League of Women Voters of the Copper Country, tells Keweenaw Now why voting is so important at this time. (Video by Keweenaw Now)
"I'm out here today because if I wasn't I was gonna scream," she said. "Myself and my neighbors have already lost access to certain things, and with more on the horizon that we could possibly lose it just is not right. So the only thing I can do is get out and let people know it's not right and I've been calling our representatives and let them know that it's not right. Yeah, that's why I'm here."
Toward the end of the protest, Valorie Troesch of Torch Lake Township spoke with Keweenaw Now about the importance of speaking out.
"I'm here because if we don't show up we're in a lot of trouble," Troesch said. "The cavalry isn't coming to save us. We are the cavalry so we've gotta show up. We've gotta make our voices loud and clear. We have to make it known that we do not support what's going on. If we don't say so, if we just acquiesce, if we obey in advance, we're screwed!"
Longtime Chassell resident Becky Darling confirmed Troesch's view of the importance of showing up.
"I was there, and we were there to be heard. It was such a turnout, and we need to keep it going!" Darling told Keweenaw Now. "I follow Keweenaw Indivisible. They organized a great march. I was so encouraged by the ages represented. Generations Unite!"
Emily Schram, co-founder and administrator of the Facebook group, Keweenaw Forward, commented, "Fantastic to see so many good people show up to say Hands Off! Hats off to Keweenaw Indivisible and other amazing organizations and individuals who've been pouring into these efforts. Thank you friends."
According to Heather Mroz, a member of the Keweenaw Indivisible leadership team, Keweenaw Indivisible, organizer of this protest, now numbers about 100 members, including the leadership team of seven.
"Our entire membership helped plan the event," Mroz said. "Right now people can join by going to the Keweenaw Indivisible Facebook page and clicking on join and filling out the form."*
Members receive a newsletter and notices of the group's meetings.
Members of the leadership team, who founded Keweenaw Indivisible, are Rich Canevez, Bill Fink, Heather Mroz, Nadija Packauskas, Alex Radke, Amanda Schwass, and Tiff.
* Editor's Note: Click here to access Keweenaw Indivisible and then click on Sign Up if you wish to read their Mission statement and apply for membership.
