Northern Michigan towns large and small held demonstrations Saturday to protest the Trump administration's policies on immigration, the economy, the environment and more.
They were only a few of the thousands of nationwide protests that coincided with Flag Day, the president's 79th birthday and a costly military parade in Washington D.C.
In towns like Elk Rapids, Charlevoix and Petoskey protesters carried signs and gathered in high traffic areas. Cars passed by with either honks of support or the occasional middle fingers.
"Tell me what democracy looks like," one person would yell.
"This is what democracy looks like," the crowds would respond.
The demonstrations also come amid large-scale protests in Los Angeles over the Trump administration's immigration crackdown and his decision to federalize the California National Guard and send in Marines.
In northern Michigan, where a new ICE detention facility is opening in a shuttered private prison in Lake County, immigration was on many protesters' minds.
So was the economy.
"Great societies shouldn't be judged by the top-tier of their wealth but how they care for their most vulnerable," said Liz Kelley, who was demonstrating in Elk Rapids. "So how are we meeting the needs who aren't meeting them on their own? I think that's a virtuous thing. And we should not have the stigma that we have failed but that we're looking out for each other."
Kelley said she's a single mother of three and works as a substitute teacher. She and her family use food assistance programs and Medicaid. Kelley worried that Trump's so-called "Big, Beautiful Bill" will continue to slash safety nets for low-income families.
In Traverse City, thousands gathered outside the Governmental Center, which houses city offices and Grand Traverse County government offices.
Among the attendees was singer Ben Folds, who was in town to perform. He posted an image from the event on social media.
And there were a small number of people seen in the area wearing pro-Trump apparel, but no significant counter-demonstration to speak of.
John DeSpelder leads Traverse Indivisible, the left-leaning civics group that organized the "No Kings" protest here.
He said it was the group’s largest demonstration to date.
"I think there are an awful lot of people that are reading the news, watching the news, that are feeling a lot of anguish," he said. "They feel, maybe especially in some of the red areas, like maybe they're the only ones that feel the way that we do. By having people turn out in big numbers, it opens up conversations. It shows that they are not alone."
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story will be updated on Monday June 16. See below for pictures of demonstrations from across the region.
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Peggy Guoin and her husband John Pettinato protest in Elk Rapids on 'No Kings Day,' June 14, 2025. (Photo: Michael Livingston/IPR News)
Michael Livingston
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Attendees of the No Kings Protest gather near the Petoskey Clock Tower in downtown Petoskey on Saturday, June 14, 2025. Approximately 3,000 people attended the protest. (Photo: Mark Hoover)
Mark Hoover
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Sujo Offield of Harbor Springs hugs a No Kings Protest attendee in downtown Petoskey on Saturday, June 14, 2025. Offield was handing out miniature American flags to anyone who attended. (Photo: Mark Hoover)
Mark Hoover
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Bob Paxton rests after marching through Traverse City on 'No Kings Day,' June 14. 2025. (Photo: Michael Livingston/IPR News)
Michael Livingston
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Attendees hold up signs near US-31 during the No King Protest in downtown Petoskey on Saturday, June 14, 2025. The protest started at 11:30 a.m. and lasted till about 1:00 p.m. (Photo: Mark Hoover)
Mark Hoover
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Paula Herzog of Boyne City, left, smiles as Catherine Seager of Charlevoix, right, shouts at cars going by during the No Kings Protest in downtown Charlevoix on Saturday, June 14, 2025. Seager voiced her opinion that the American dream is being dismantled and diversity in America is being halted under the Trump Administration. (Photo: Mark Hoover)
Mark Hoover
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Protesters hold up signs for 'No Kings Day' as cars pass by along US-31 in Elk Rapids on June 14, 2025. (Photo: Michael Livingston/IPR News)
Michael Livingston
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An attendee of the No Kings Protest holds up a sign as cars pass by in downtown Charlevoix on Saturday, June 14, 2025. The protest was held on Bridge Street, the main road that leads in and out of Charlevoix. (Photo: Mark Hoover)
Mark Hoover
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Attendees of the No Kings Protest wave at passing cars in downtown Charlevoix on Saturday, June 14, 2025. The group cheered when cars honked as they passed by. (Photo: Mark Hoover)
Mark Hoover
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Over 7,000 people marched through Traverse City on June 14, 2025 in protest of President Donald Trump's policies on immigration, tariffs, diversity initiatives and more. (Photo: Michael Livingston/IPR News)
Michael Livingston
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Residents protesting Trump Administration policies wave at cars passing by on US-31 in Elk Rapids on 'No Kings Day,' June 14, 2025. (Photo: Michael Livingston/IPR News)
Michael Livingston
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Traverse City residents protest the Trump Administration's immigration policy on 'No Kings Day,' June 14, 2025. (Photo: Michael Livingston/IPR News)
