News and Views from the People's Struggle
Outrage that cop called ex-Marine ‘loco’
Grand Rapids, MI – The Grand Rapids Police Department was caught lying and covering up for Captain Curt VanderKooi this week. VanderKooi racially profiled an ex-Marine and contacted ICE to detain him in November 2018. The recent Grand Rapids police investigation claims VanderKooi contacted ICE out of concern for possible ‘terrorism.’
Grand Rapids, Michigan – Cars honked and people shouted, “Get rid of Trump!” as anti-war protesters held signs on a busy street corner, Jan 25, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The protester’s signs read, “Trump! Hands off Venezuela!”
Grand Rapids, MI – About 500 people rallied and marched thru Grand Rapids, January 19, to build resistance to Trump during the 2019 Women’s March. The women’s movement in West Michigan hosted leaders from the immigrant rights, African American freedom, student and labor movements.
Over 200 protesters jammed the Kent County Board of Commissioners meeting and shut it down on June 28. The room was packed with polite but determined people, overflowing into the hallway. The protesters held homemade signs, “ICE out of Kent County” and “Stop separating families!”
Grand Rapids, MI – Nearly 1000 immigrant rights supporters marched over three miles to downtown Grand Rapids. Mexican, Central American and Caribbean mothers and fathers pushed babies in strollers and young people chanted in unison, demanding immigration reform from Trump and the U.S. Congress.
Grand Rapids, MI – In response to President Trump's attack on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) 600 immigrants and their supporters marched and rallied in Grand Rapids. Youth and students impacted by Trump's decision led the march with a large banner demanding, “Dignity, respect, and permanent protection,” and “Dignidad, respeto, y proteccion permanente,” in Spanish.
Grand Rapids, MI — Union bus drivers gathered 40 people at the West Michigan Labor Fest, Sept. 4, to confront Mayor Rosalyn Bliss of Grand Rapids about her role in union busting. Mayor Bliss was set to speak at the nearby kickoff of the Labor Day bridge walk. That is, until a group of ATU Local 836 bus drivers and their supporters emerged from the crowd of walkers and confronted Bliss. They chanted, “Union busting is disgusting!” Bliss quickly moved back into the waiting walkers.
Grand Rapids, Michigan – Upset they still do not have a union contract after two years, ATU Local 836 bus drivers forced west Michigan politicians to end a press conference early. Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalyn Bliss, a Democrat, and several suburban mayors are refusing to negotiate a union contract with the bus drivers that serve their communities.
Grand Rapids, MI – Members and staff of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 951 are picketing the entrance to Pearson Foods on July 6. Pearson is in violation of fair labor practices and is interfering with workers’ union membership. UFCW filed unfair labor practice charges against Pearson Foods.
Grand Rapids, MI – Between 500 and 600 people protested President Trump's Muslim travel ban at Gerald R. Ford International Airport in West Michigan. The protesters stretched for a quarter mile along the busy entrance road to the airport at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29.
