Detroit, Windsor rallies held to counter Trump’s ire

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Americans gathered in the heart of Detroit Saturday to express their appreciation – and even love – for Canada, while at the same time voicing their disdain for United States political leadership. 

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Canadians about 1.6 kilometres away, across the Detroit River, meanwhile, gathered at the same time to express pride in their country and to reaffirm their commitment never to be taken over by the United States. 

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“I won’t say I have a hatred for Trump, but I despise what he and Elon Musk are doing to my nation,” said Mark Lewandowski as about 1,000 protesters gathered along the Detroit River at Detroit’s Hart Plaza.

The current polarization in the U.S. is the most pronounced it’s ever been, said Sheri Manska of Allen Park, MI.

“That’s the biggest division I’ve ever seen in my 60 years of life,” Manska said. “I want the balance between the left and the right. This isn’t a balance. This is gung-ho, slash and burn. Let’s kill everything that looks left of centre.” 

Organized by the Detroit-based group We the People Dissent, the concurrent demonstrations featured chants, speeches and a mutual salute across the river to acknowledge the bond between Windsor and Detroit. 

Organizer Audrey Bourriaud of Bloomfield Hills, MI, said a key message of the rally is to express solidarity with Canada. 

“We’re organizing a joint protest between Windsor and Detroit to show our support to our Canadian friends, because we don’t tolerate the attack that President Trump has made against Canada,” she said in an interview. “We really want to send a message of unity. We are the people. We are together. It doesn’t matter that we are Canadian or American, we the people will always be stronger than oligarchs and tyranny.” 

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Despite the outpouring of support for Canada — punctuated by occasional chants of “we love Canada” from the crowd, many of whom carried Canadian flags — several people who spoke with the Windsor Star were reluctant to give their last names. 

“We’re a little nervous,” said one person. “I don’t want to give my last name, because there’s probably going to be retribution at some point,” added Jennifer, of Ann Arbor, MI. 

Still, the crowd wasn’t hesitant about expressing their concerns regarding the attitude of President Donald Trump towards Canada, the massive job cuts by Elon Musk, who heads the Department of Government Efficiency, to the war in Ukraine and Trump’s closeness to Russian President Vladimir Putin. 

Trump has said he wants to use economic pressure through tariffs to force Canada to join the U.S as a “cherished 51st state.” 

Many protesters carried Canadian flags and a variety of signs, including one that read “we are sorry Canada,” and another that said, “O Canada, we stand on guard with thee.”  Another said, “Make Michigan a province.”

Byron, who wouldn’t give his last name, arrived at Hart Plaza with a flag featuring a Rambo-like depiction of Trump carrying a large gun. The Trump supporter engaged in pointed conversations with anybody who engaged him. 

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“I am more than fine with all of these people having their opinion,” he told the Windsor Star. “But my opinion is that your country’s taxes are, especially on our dairy products, at what 250 per cent to over 300 per cent?” 

Canada levies heavy tariffs on American dairy products after a certain level of imports to protect the nation’s supply-management system for dairy. Trump is now threatening to impose reciprocal tariffs on Canada’s dairy industry of 250 per cent. 

“If you guys were to just get rid of all of your tariffs and we get rid of all of ours, and have truly fair trade, not only would your dairy products go down, but it would probably put your dairy industry out of business,” Byron said. 

“This is Motor City. You guys want to make our cars. You want to make everything and ship it over here and have all kinds of trade deficits with us, but then we’re the bad guy.” 

On the Canadian side, about 300 people gathered under the giant Great Canadian Flag on Riverside Drive. 

Ted Wheeler attended with his granddaughter Zoe Gignac. “The good part of all of this is getting Canadians to take a look at their country and show they care,” said Wheeler, who has cancelled a trip to the U.S. 

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Elaine Weeks, who organized the Windsor rally, said Bourriaud reached out to Canadians in Windsor to help organize the mutual events on either side of the Detroit River. 

“The message is hope,” Weeks said. “Not just, give up. Try not to let fear take over. To understand that if we say something… it’s to make sure that people know we’re not going to sit here and take it. 

“Canada is a happy, friendly, helpful country,” said Weeks, whose father Albert Weeks was once mayor of Windsor. “We don’t deserve to be targeted like this by a dictator who doesn’t know what he’s talking about.” 

bamacleod@postmedia.com 

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