The marches have been held nationally, and in Houghton, since 2017, when more than 470,000 people assembled in Washington, D.C, to protest against Donald Trump’s policies the day after his inauguration. Houghton’s was one of 850 marches Saturday, which took place across all 50 states and Washington. 

“I think they have strong feelings about their rights, about women’s rights, about the rights of immigrants, and they’re not going to be silent about it,” said Julie Badel, one of the organizers of the Houghton march.

Nearly all of the marches since 2017 have happened in January, including one earlier this year. Saturday’s was tied to a day of voter canvassing efforts across the nation, national organizers said.

This year’s march had a different feeling to it, “an edge that wasn’t there before,” said co-organizer Susan Burack. Many in the Houghton group carried signs or wore clothing in support of Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris.

Participants in Saturday’s Women’s March begin singing at Bridgeview Park prior to their walk across the Portage Lake Lift Bridge. (Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette)

While Houghton’s vote tilts Democratic, Houghton County as a whole has voted more Republican; Trump received more than 56% of the vote in the county four years ago. 

Responses Saturday were predominantly positive but mixed, ranging from friendly honks to middle fingers. One truck flying a multitude of Trump flags made several loops around downtown. 

Even with some negative responses, it was important to show up, Burack said. 

“I think people are really concerned about the election, and even though we know that Trump is probably going to carry the county, we need to make our voices known,” she said. 

Reproductive issues were at the top of the list for many of Saturday’s marchers, though, echoing one sign that said “Bigger than Roe,” they also had other concerns.

Dawn Nulf, of Chassell, said she was most motivated by her concern for the future of democracy, which is “definitely under threat” with the possibility of Trump’s return to office, she said. She would like to see the government follow proper procedures and not rely so heavily on executive actions, which has been a problem in both parties, she said. 

“I just want people to get out there and vote and hopefully care about the country as much as I do,” she said. 

As a mother to three daughters, she would also like to see women’s rights strengthened, “rather than demeaned and denigrated and lessened.” Reproductive freedom is a huge part of that, she said. 

Abortion, which had been federally protected since the Roe v. Wade ruling, reverted back to individual states after the Supreme Court overturned the ruling in 2022. Many still had abortion bans on the books that had been superseded by Roe; Michigan voters enshrined access to abortion in the state constitution through a ballot proposal in 2022. 

“I’m a physician, and so as far as the medical aspect of that, there has been such an erosion in the availability of an important medical care, based on people who have no medical knowledge, and there’s no science behind the decisions,” Nulf said. “That’s ridiculous.”

Nulf came to the march to be with “people of like minds and people with good energy, and people who are interested in furthering our country.”

Nathan Bett of Hancock carried a “Don’t Tread On Me” flag with the snake replaced with a women’s uterus. He hoped to see reproductive rights reinstated at the national level. 

He said the election would either mark a step forward or a slide into authoritarianism.

“We’re here defending our basic rights, and if we don’t make it now, this is probably it,” he said.  

Judy Isaksson of Hancock said reproductive freedom was her main issue, saying “It’s my body, I should have the choice to do what I want with it.”

She would also like to see costs come down, and more money put towards education. Taking part in Saturday’s march, she said, showed support for the idea that “you want a better country.”

“I decided to come today because I want to show my support that women are part of this country too, and we deserve to have rights and our own freedom,” she said.