Some Copper Country residents raised banners in support of the people and the constitution at Bridgeview Park on President’s Day. Protestors voiced concerns about recent actions by President Donald Trump’s administration and special advisor Elon Musk. Yoopers for Ukraine president Nadija Packauskas said the group of about 50 residents joined protests around the country as a part of the 50501 movement.
We had several people here who were laid off from their jobs for poor performance and were federal workers. They were here today. So we have people in our community that are hurting. And we no longer have the community resources to assist those people who are laid off in that matter. So these people don’t even know if they’re going to be able to get unemployment… And these are not strangers, not people in different states, these are our brothers and sisters and our neighbors right here in the Keweenaw. So that’s how that’s affecting our community. And then globally, of course, it’s affecting our community. I mean, I worked on behalf of Ukraine. We did our 155th march yesterday across the bridge. I was in D.C. last week with Ukraine Week and the National Prayers Week for D.C. And it’s a moment right now to be here in four-degree weather and see Republicans, Democrats, Independents, to see people from various groups coming together to support our nation. – Nadija Packauskas, Yoopers for Ukraine
Deedee Bloom with WAVE expressed concern for veterans locally, schools and educational intuitions, and federal workers living in the Upper Peninsula. The Office of Personnel Management estimates roughly 27,000 federal workers live in Michigan.
And in our area, we’re rural and we’re low income. We have vets here who are affected. They’re not going to get the care that they deserve. The Department of Education, we have a lot of IEP students here. If that’s cut, they’re going to be lagging behind more than they already are. – Deedee Bloom, member of Women for American Values and Ethics
One United States Forest Service employee, who wished to remain anonymous, added on Friday that several workers received layoff notices. Some even were close to completing a probationary period, typically found at the start of any new job.
“…unprecedented and no one, even people that have been around decades, really have no idea what’s going on and how to get through this. All probationary employees, anyone that’s been around less than a year, all got fired on Friday. I have friends that I’ve worked with in the past they sitting at 11 months and they’re fresh out of school, young, new employees, excited about these new jobs and protecting our natural resources all getting. Getting let go. A lot of them are the frontline workers, they’re the ones taking care of the trails, they’re the ones cleaning the restrooms, working hands-on, and managing our resources. I just transferred from out west where a lot of the stuff we did was fuels management. So we were hands-on with trying to prevent more intense wildfires and a lot of that work is just not going to happen. – Anonymous U.S. Forest Service employee
Participants in the protest expressed that people cannot give up hope, calling on representatives in the House and Senate to flex the checks of power granted to Congress in the Constitution.
I believe that they need to start realizing what is going on. It doesn’t sound like they do, you know, they don’t… I think they’re somehow a step away from D.O.G.E. They think they’re in control, yet they’re not. And they need to realize that. – DeeDee Bloom, member of Women for American Values and Ethics
Those interested in learning more about the 50501 protests in Lansing, and other areas of Michigan can find local news coverage below. Those interested in contacting legislators representing Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in Washington D.C. can find contact information for Representative Jack Bergman, and Senators Gary Peters and Elissa Slotkin below.
FOX 17 Grand Rapids report 2/17/2025 Dozens in GR Protest Trump’s during nationwide protest
