Under the shadow of Detroit’s Michigan Central Station, Roosevelt Park pulsed with drums, chants, colors and signs on Saturday, October 18th, as thousands gathered for ‘No Kings Day’, a protest in support of democracy that drew reportedly seven million to the streets across the country. Organized by We the People Dissent, Indivisible Metro Detroit, Macomb Defenders Rising, and dozens of grassroots partners, including Detroit Will Breathe, the event blended protest and celebration, uniting residents, artists, and activists in a call to defend democracy, reject authoritarianism, and build a government truly of, by, and for the people.
Colorful banners waved high as volunteers from dozens of grassroots organizations staffed tables along the walkways, offering voter registration, mutual aid resources, and information on civic engagement. Some of the organizers described the gathering as both a “celebration of people power” and a reminder of the stakes in the months ahead.
The event came just weeks before Detroit’s mayoral election and a year ahead of the 2026 midterms. For organizers, the timing was intentional, a call for Detroiters to mobilize, register, and vote…