CASCADE TOWNSHIP, MI – In what they called a “final hurrah” before Election Day, Grand Rapids-area activists gathered to protest President Donald Trump’s final scheduled campaign rally Monday, Nov. 2.
Demonstrators with “Black Lives Matter” and anti-Trump signs lined the busy intersection of 28th Street and Patterson Avenue in Cascade Township, emphatically chanting in protest of the president – one even climbed a nearby utility pole to tear down a “Trump 2020” sign.
While some passing cars honked in approval of the protest, other drivers shouted in support of the president, who was scheduled to rally voters late Monday night at Gerald R. Ford International Airport.
The “Dump Trump” protest was originally planned to take place at the entrance of the airport, but was later moved further away from the rally due to “newly imposed traffic restrictions on all airport perimeter roads,” organizers said.
The Michigan Association of Civil Rights Activists and Justice for Black Lives organized the impromptu protest shortly after activists found out Trump was coming to Grand Rapids.
“We found out Trump was coming to town, so we were like ‘This is our final hurrah,’” said organizer Jessica Miller, 39. “We just wanted to prove that we don’t welcome racists here, and we don’t want him in office.”
Monday’s campaign rally was one of three held by Trump in Michigan in the final two days of the race. He visited Macomb County on Sunday and Traverse City earlier Monday.
Related: President Trump at Michigan rally says ‘red wave’ is coming
Trump also held a rally in Grand Rapids on the night before the 2016 election. The president has fondly recalled the stop during his events in 2020, crediting the final swing of campaign events as a major reason he surprised the political establishment by winning Michigan.
Miller said she thinks Grand Rapids could go either way in Tuesday’s election, and is concerned about every vote being counted.
“I’m worried about Trump claiming the win before votes are even finished being counted,” she said. “I’m worried about votes not being counted or him claiming (voter) fraud.”
Some said they would resume demonstrations after the election if there are questions surrounding the result.
“I will peacefully protest if I think he unfairly called the election,” said protester Kaylynn Dang, 24, of Wyoming.
Justice for Black Lives plans to host another protest Wednesday, Nov. 4 in downtown Grand Rapids, no matter who wins the election.
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is consistently leading in polls of likely Michigan voters taken in October. In a campaign rally last week, Vice President Mike Pence asked Michigan voters to prove the state is “Trump country" on Election Day.
RELATED: Mike Pence: ‘Show them Michigan is Trump country’
Many Michigan Trump supportershave said during campaign events that they would be suspicious of the results if Biden wins the upcoming election.
Vicki Guck of West Bloomfield said during a recent rally that she would not accept a win for the Democratic candidate.
“I think there’s too much fraud going on, lot of mail-in voting, lot of harvesting,” she said. “I don’t trust it.”
RELATED: We asked Donald Trump supporters if they will accept election results if Biden wins
But Arly Johnson, another anti-Trump protester at Monday’s demonstration, said he’s not worried about voter fraud.
“There is historically and statistically no notion of voter fraud,” said Johnson, 19. “I think my biggest fear is that if Trump wins, there’s going to be a lot of racist and homophobic attacks. I fear for me and my friends.”
The Grand Rapids resident, who plans to vote for the first time in a presidential election Tuesday, said he’s doing everything he can to encourage people his age to vote.
“This is our first election where young people are going to be the deciding vote,” he said. “Normally, it’s older generations who show up and get out there. But this year, Gen Z and millennials, we’re getting out there to vote and we want to make sure our voices are heard.”
More on MLive:
Guns and voting: What Michiganders should be prepared for on Election Day
Open carry of firearms allowed at some Michigan polls after Supreme Court indecision
51 Michigan communities get head start on processing absentee ballots
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