GRAND RAPIDS Mich. — Hundreds of protesters gathered in Grand Rapids Thursday ahead of President Donald Trump’s rally at Van Andel Arena.
The Michigan Democratic Party held a Rise Above Rally to protest and call for solutions on several issues, including healthcare, education, immigration and more.
Richard Ojeda, a former West Virginia state senator and retired Army major, traveled to Grand Rapids to attend the rally.
Ojeda, a Democrat, said he voted for Trump in the 2016 election. Now, he’s speaking against him.
“Well I think, it didn’t take very long to realize that every he was saying during his campaign — he didn’t mean,” Ojeda said.
He said he wants Michigan voters to do more than just vote.
“My message (to Michigan voters) is: your vote in 2020 is all you have to do,” he said. “You’ve gotta get out there and you have to educate people. We cannot let this country fall, and right now, that’s exactly the direction we’re going.”
Additional speakers also took to the stage, as well as a ventriloquist and singers.
Prep started at around 1:30 pm for the protest in Rosa Parks Circle. There was also a second, organized protest near the Van Andel Arena during the afternoon.
