Action Meetup Tomorrow at South Range VFW

HCDP News for June 17th

Houghton County Dems
June 17, 2025

ACTION MEETUP TOMORROW AT SOUTH RANGE VFW

THE JUNE ACTION MEET UP WILL TAKE PLACE TOMORROW, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18TH AT THE SOUTH RANGE VFW.

COME JOIN US! OUR GOAL FOR THIS MEETING IS TO BRAINSTORM IDEAS FOR FUN FUNDRAISERS! PIZZA AND SODAS WILL BE AVAILABLE, BUT FEEL FREE TO BYO OR BRING A DISH TO SHARE!

WHEN: 6 PM Wednesday, June 18th.

WHERE: South Range VFW, 44969 Baltic Ave (Google Map).

BRIDGEFEST AND NO KINGS

BRIDGEFEST

The weather for Bridgefest this weekend was chillier than it has been in recent years, but that didn’t stop us from once again marching in the parade and hosting a table at Kestner Waterfront Park. We got quite a few cheers and thumbs up from parade goers this year!!

We had plenty of literature at our table in the Park, including flyers that urge “don’t sign any petition that mentions citizen voting” (those same petitions that we adopted a “Decline to Sign” resolution about at our monthly meeting June 4th.)

Once again we had our button machine at the table and encouraged people to make their own button designs, while offering our own buttons too. The “Demobrat” buttons were a real hit with the younger folks!

Thanks to all who volunteered to make this annual event happen, and thanks to all of you who cheered for us in the parade and who stopped by our table to say hello.

Volunteers at the Parade staging area ready to march. (Photo courtesy of Barb Turuc)

Plenty of cheers along the parade route this year! (Photo courtesy of Mary Marchaterre)

We had a lot of material available at our table at Kestner Park. (Photo courtesy of Nancy Verive)

NO KINGS

This Saturday was No Kings Day, and judging by all the last minute calls, texts and email questions we received, there was a lot of interest in showing up to march in a No Kings protest. Due to Bridgefest, a Houghton-based No Kings event did not happen. But we know several folks went out of town for the opportunity to protest the direction - the wrong turn - our country has taken under Donald Trump.

There were No Kings events in Marquette (we know several folks from our area went there to participate) and four other UP cities (that we know of). And there were some 2,000 events in total across the country.

Organizers gave an early estimate of the total number of people protesting across all locations of 5 million, a figure they gave while many events were still getting started. Later, after all the events had concluded, the 50501 group, one of the organizers of No Kings Day, estimated that up to 11 million Americans turned out to protest! Either estimate would mean that No Kings Day was one of the largest, if not the largest, protest ever in America.

Trump 2.0 is Increasingly Unpopular

It seems that there was a surge in the desire to participate in No Kings Day over the last week driven by Trump’s misuse of the National Guard in the ongoing ICE raids in California. This is only the latest example of Trump’s disregard for the Constitution in pursuit of Project 2025 goals - goals that are anything but popular. As a result of a series of missteps in the first months of Trump 2.0, he is suffering in the polls.

Pics from Michigan and National No Kings events

If you are on Facebook, check out this post to see many of the creative signs that folks were carrying in Marquette. Then there’s this post from Bobby Antila for the Rural Caucus with over 20 pics, and noting the “Thousands of people at the Marquette No Kings' March - the crowd stretched 1.2 miles along US 41!”

This photo from the Lansing State Journal (https://bit.ly/442pL8O) has the caption “Thousands attended the ‘No Kings’ rally at the Michigan Capitol in Lansing…”

WWMT TV-3 Kalamazoo has coverage and photos from No Kings events in the Lower Peninsula. You can find their coverage in the online article “Tens of thousands gathered across the Great Lakes state for 'No Kings' protests”.

The national Indivisible group has a montage of photos and video clips from events in all 50 states posted to Bluesky. Find that post here (you don’t need a Bluesky account to view this post). Scott Dworkin’s Substack also has a set of photos from all 50 states - find that here.

VOLUNTEER FOR HOUGHTON DEMS SUMMER EVENTS

WE NEED YOUR HELP FOR MORE SUMMER EVENTS

This is an important time for us to show our unity and presence in the community. Families and kids in wagons and strollers are welcome at the parades.

We’re trying something new to gather marchers, in addition to reaching out personally – see the link below. For any questions or problems with the form, call Nancy Verive (812) 573-1403. Thanks in advance and let’s have some fun!

PARADES:

South Range 4th of July - Friday, July 4, 2025 - Parade @ 2:00 PM

Line up begins at 1 PM at the South Range Elementary School.

Strawberry Festival - Saturday, July 12, 2025 - Parade @ 11:00 AM

Line up begins at 10 AM by the triangle park on US 41 at the south end of town.

POLITICAL VIOLENCE - TWO DEAD IN MINNESOTA

POLITICAL VIOLENCE HAS NO PLACE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

We join our fellow citizens in the state of Minnesota and across the country in shock and mourning at the political assassination of Melissa Hortman, a Democratic representative in the Minnesota Legislature since 2004 along with her husband Mark, and the wounding of Minnesota state Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette by the same gunman.

WE JOIN WITH POLITICAL GROUPS AND POLITICIANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN CONDEMNING POLITICAL VIOLENCE IN ANY FORM

The suspected assassin, Vince Boelter, was apprehended by police in the early morning hours Monday. Boelter is described as an Evangelical and so-called Christian nationalist. He is a life-long Republican and MAGA supporter. While it was reported that he owned his own private security company there have been conflicting reports on his level of experience in the security field, with NPR quoting a “friend” as saying much of his purported experience was “a fantasy”.

A list found in his vehicle that police have characterized as additional potential “targets” included Gov Tim Walz, Rep. Ilhan Omar, several Democratic lawmakers, & abortion-care providers.

Regardless of your political beliefs or frustrations there is no excuse for the use of violence in pursuing political aims in the United States of America.

THE BIG BAD BILLIONAIRE BILL AND WHAT YOU CAN DO TO FIGHT IT

The Big Bad Billionaire Bill - the Republican’s Reverse Robin Hood scam to take food and healthcare away from poor and middle income Americans in order to fund tax cuts for the rich - has passed in the House, and now the ball is with the Senate.

OUR NEWSLETTERS FROM JUNE 3RD AND MAY 27TH SHOW THE LENGTHY LISTS WE’VE COMPILED OF THE WORST IMPACTS OF THE BIG BAD BILLIONAIRE BILL!

Realistically we shouldn’t expect a vote in the Senate until after the July 4th break. And, given that the last approved continuing budget resolution funds the government through September, it might not even happen until after Labor Day.

SO THERE IS STILL TIME TO FIGHT!

NOW, WHAT CAN YOU DO TO FIGHT THE BIG BAD BILLIONAIRE BILL?

Given everything that this bill threatens, we urge you to join the push to convince lawmakers NOT to vote for the Big Bad Billionaire Bill:

JOIN A VIRTUAL PHONE BANK

The National Indivisible organization is running virtual phone banks every Wednesday and Thursday of this month. Volunteers will call voters and connect them directly to their Senator. The focus is on empowering voters in red areas to connect with their Republican Senators and urge them to vote No on the Big Bad Billionaire Bill.

THIS IS A SIMPLE BUT POWERFUL WAY TO HELP MAKE SURE OUR VOICES OF DISSENT ARE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR IN THE US SENATE.

SAVE THE DATES!

HOUGHTON COUNTY DEMOCRATS — SUMMER EVENTS

See the item above for information on how to march with us at some of these summer events!

Marquette Dems Summer Sizzle

The Marquette County Democratic Party have announced their Annual Summer Sizzle Fundraiser. The event will take place on June 26, 2025 at 5:30 pm at Marquette Charter Township Community Center.

Tickets are available for purchase through ActBlue or can be bought at the door. (Advanced purchase: $30, At the Door: $35.)

Governmental & Community Meetings

TUE JUNE 17

The Laurium Village Council meets tonight at 6 PM in the Council Chambers of the Town Hall. More info can be found on the Village's website.

The Calumet Village Council meets tonight at 6:00 PM in the Village Council Chambers. More information on the Council, it's committees, and minutes of past meetings can be found on the Council's webpage.

WED JUN 18

The Hancock City Council meets at 6 PM in the Hancock City Hall Council Chambers for a Budget Public Hearing and City Council Meeting.

This newsletter is paid for with regulated funds by the Houghton County Democratic Party, and is not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee.