Audrey Bourriaud moved to the United States from her native France 15 years ago. Something that she described as a dream.
However, what she has seen happen in this country since – particularly under President Donald Trump – has shaken and angered her so much that in February she started “We the People Dissent.”
“I realized that I had to do something, like everyone else in this country had to do something,” Bourriaud said. “I grew up, you know, learning about the Second World War, learning about fascism, learning about socialism, learning about communism.”
“I studied extensively Eastern European politics, and when I saw what I saw in February, I totally freaked out,” said Bourriaud.
Her’s is one of a multitude of grassroots organizations that are protesting tomorrow across Michigan and the country.
The protest day has been planned months in advance, but has taken on a new urgency after this week’s protests in Los Angeles.
The “No Kings” protests will be similar to April’s “Hands Off” protests that focus on what they call Trump’s overreach and authoritarian actions in his second term in office.
The protests are unique in that no one group is organizing them, which has led to dozens of demonstrations throughout Michigan and across the country in response to the military parade that is being held in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, June 14.
“You know many people are calling this a rally, we’re calling it for what it is, it’s a protest,” Lloyd Banks III, the chair of the Farmington-Farmington Hills Democratic Club, said.
Banks took over as chair in January and says that the current climate in this country has turned toxic and dangerous.
“There are things that are happening just around us. That just doesn’t make sense, we have the Tesla incident that’s taking place or the protests that they’re doing over there, because they’re fed up and they’re tired.”
Banks says that he’s expecting close to 1,000 people at the protest and is working with Farmington Hills Police Department to make sure it remains peaceful.
The protest in Clark Park is expected to draw at least 2,000 people and will also feature speeches by Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist and Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib.
“Back in April, when we were doing the Hands Up protests, we had many people who came to us organizers saying, ‘Thank you very much for organizing, because protest is actually my very first time protesting ever,’” Bourriaud said. “So we definitely, you know, have a lot of attention. We have a lot of motivation, and we have a lot of participation.”
Banks also applauded the other organizations that have come up with their own local protests.
Adding that it shouldn’t matter what political party you belong to, that everyone in this country should be willing to stand for democracy.
“We welcome our Republican friends,” Banks said. “We welcome anyone that’s you know, independent or whatever, to come out and join us. As long as you’re about peace, that’s what we’re about.”
