Those who attended the Labor Day event, which was part of a national Day of Action to advocate for workers' rights and a society that prioritizes working people over billionaires, heard some uplifting speeches, songs and music on the pier. They also spent part of the two afternoon hours meeting and greeting some community leaders -- including members of progressive groups like the Houghton County Democrats, the League of Women Voters of the Copper Country, and the National Park Service as well as newly formed groups like Keweenaw Indivisible and AWAVE (Advocates for those Without A Voice Everywhere) -- who shared information about their work, concerns and coming events.
According to Heather Mroz, Keweenaw Indivisible systems coordinator, KI is already planning a future day of action event.
"Several independent counts pegged the rally at 150 to 200 people, which is a powerful statement about our small community’s commitment to workers and to democracy," Mroz told Keweenaw Now. "From here, our members will shape what KI does next -- and we welcome anyone who wants to be part of that. Folks can join us on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month, 6 - 8 p.m., at KUUF (Keweenaw Unitarian Universalist Fellowship) in Houghton.* And on October 18 at noon, we’ll host No Kings 2.0 on the Houghton waterfront and march the bridge as part of the nationwide day of action."
Members of the League of Women Voters of the Copper Country were available to offer voting information to local residents.**
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As rally participants gathered to hear a program of inspiring speakers, they were energized by KI's Mariah Durham -- former Michigan Tech women's basketball coach, now teaching K-12 Physical Education and Health, and a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians -- who led them in pro-worker cheers.
Mariah Durham leads participants in cheers for workers and unions as the Sept. 1, 2025, Keweenaw Indivisible Labor Day Anti-Billionaires Rally begins at the Houghton Waterfront Pier in Houghton, MI. (Video by Keweenaw Now)The first speaker at the Rally was Rich Canevez, Keweenaw Indivisible local organizer and Michigan Tech assistant professor in Humanities. Canevez spoke about the history and meaning of Labor Day and how wealth disparity in this country affects workers, including his own family.
Rich Canevez of Keweenaw Indivisible addresses participants and visitors during KI's Labor Day Anti-Billionaires Rally on Sept. 1, 2025, at the Houghton Waterfront Pier. (Video by Keweenaw Now)Following Canevez's welcoming introduction, Frank Fiala, former superintendent of Keweenaw National Historical Park, spoke about the unprecedented assault on the National Park System (NPS) by the administration and Congress -- including freezing all hiring of NPS staff, firing thousands of others indiscriminately, and cutting the NPS budget of their 433 protected places (including Isle Royale National Park) located in every state and contributing over $55 billion to the American economy.
During the Sept. 1, 2025, Keweenaw Indivisible Labor Day Anti-Billionaires Rally in Houghton, MI, Frank Fiala, former Keweenaw National Historical Park superintendent, addresses the crowd concerning the present threat to national parks. (Video by Keweenaw Now)Denise Maronen of Calumet, MI, spoke in favor of unions, relating a story of her grandfather's death in a local copper mine accident and her family's faith in labor unions -- despite the discrimination she and other family members endured from anti-union people in the community, including teachers.
During the Sept. 1, 2025, Keweenaw Indivisible Labor Day Anti-Billionaires Rally in Houghton, MI, Denise Maronen speaks about her grandfather's death in a local mine and her family's faith in unions. (Video by Keweenaw Now)Lois Gemignani of the AWAVE group commented on the subject of Maronen's speech.
"The community came out to honor Labor Day," Gemignani said. "We remembered the Copper Country’s brutal history of the mining companies fighting the union over basic safety issues. The cost of mining was in human lives. It is especially important that we remember America’s past. As we are seeing constitutional rights being eroded, let’s remember how hard our ancestors fought for their basic needs. Don’t be silent!"
Another moving personal story came from teacher Janel Summers, who spoke about a serious health issue that could have cost her employment if it hadn't been for the aid from a union.
Teacher Janel Summers speaks about her positive experience with unions. (Video by Keweenaw Now)During the speaker presentations, singer Toni Saari offered a musical interlude including several familiar protest songs.
Local musician and singer Toni Saari entertains during the Sept. 1, 2025, Keweenaw Indivisible Labor Day Anti-Billionaires Rally in Houghton, MI. (Video by Keweenaw Now)Poet Alan Salmi of Hancock and Chicago reminded the audience of labor activist Joe Hill, who was framed for a murder he did not commit and executed by firing squad in Utah in 1915. Hill was a member of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW, familiarly called the "Wobblies"), an international labor union founded in Chicago; and he was active in organizing workers during the early 20th century.***
During the Sept. 1, 2025, Keweenaw Indivisible Labor Day Anti-Billionaires Rally in Houghton, MI, poet Alan Salmi recites a poem that expresses labor organizer Joe Hill's last will. (Video by Keweenaw Now)As a follow-up to the poem, musician Eli Haber of the band Bees, Bees, Bees, who provided more music following the speakers, sang the song "Joe Hill."***
During a musical performance by the group Bees, Bees, Bees, musician Eli Haber sings "Joe Hill" about the famed labor organizer unjustly executed. (Video by Keweenaw Now)Elizabeth Flynn, a member of Keweenaw Indivisible, commented on the music and the speakers.
"Wonderful to listen to great music, enlightened speakers, and enjoy the beautiful day," Flynn said. "We can all use some uplifting in these difficult times. Thanks to Rich Canevez and the local Indivisible chapter. I was happy to be part of a national movement and to be reminded that workers are considerably more important than billionaires, the message of Labor Day."
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One new candidate for an important office who attended the Rally spoke briefly with Keweenaw Now about the issues that concern him: Brian Irizarry, Houghton City Councilman, who is running for Michigan's 110th District State Representative.
During the Sept. 1, 2025, Keweenaw Indivisible Labor Day Anti-Billionaires Rally in Houghton, Brian Irizarry, a local Democratic candidate for Michigan's 110th District State Representative, speaks briefly with Keweenaw Now about his concerns and why he is running. He is presently a member of the Houghton City Council. (Video by Keweenaw Now)****In some closing remarks, KI local organizer Rich Canevez thanked those who attended the Rally and noted Labor Day is a moment to honor the courage of workers in the past and to commit ourselves to standing up for workers' rights today.
"And remember: we are all workers," Canevez said. "We make with our hands, think with our minds, speak with our mouths, and move with our feet. We are the motor that keeps America working. And we can make our voice heard from wherever we are! Resisting the erosion of our rights is a duty we can, we must, commit to. And when you do speak up against exploitation, know that you do not have to do it alone. Around you here today are the very people who will transform a singular act of resistance into a movement."
After the Rally, Valorie Troesch, an active member of the Houghton County Democratic Party, told Keweenaw Now she was glad to see so many people show up at the Rally and acknowledge the importance of Labor Day, a national holiday since 1894.
"And, of course, Franklin Roosevelt's Labor Secretary, Frances Perkins, was a powerful advocate for workers. After all, the creation of a national retirement plan -- Social Security -- was her brainchild," Troesch noted.
"Workers' rights have never been under siege as they are today," Troesch added. "Donald Trump, who has never known an honest day of work in his life, and his entire Project 2025 administration are hostile to workers and are doing everything they can to undermine the security and safety of workers. From defunding OSHA to voiding federal union contracts to making the NLRB effectively non functional, he demonstrates on a daily basis how brazenly anti-worker he is.
"The most important thing is for us to show up and resist. That is, after all, how labor rights were achieved in the first place. Workers united and resisted. Today was a good reminder that this spirit is still alive and active in the Copper Country. We must never give in or give up."
Sarah Green of Calumet, who carried her world flag during the Rally, told Keweenaw Now, "That rally was a great example of people coming together to celebrate our power as a community. These events are essential to bring new people into the resistance."
Green -- the founder of CRAG (Citizens Rally for Accountable Government), a newsletter on citizen participation in local government and helpful news items related to defending democracy against the attacks by the present administration -- comments on the Rally and reports on America's descent into authoritarianism in her September 8, 2025, CRAG newsletter.*****
Becky Darling, who attended the Rally, had this brief comment: "We are all in this together."
Editor's Notes:
* The KUUF building, where Keweenaw Indivisible meets, is at 604 Bridge Street, Houghton, MI 49931
** For information about the League of Women Voters of the Copper Country, visit their Web site.
*** For more about Joe Hill see the Wikipedia article, "Joe Hill (Activist)."
**** To learn more about candidate Brian Irizarry and his position on issues, see his Web site.
***** CLICK HERE to read Sarah Green's Sept. 8, 2025, CRAG newsletter.
