Protesters lined Houghton’s Shelden Avenue Monday in what organizers called a “No King Day” march. The march was in opposition to some of the actions by President Trump and advisor Elon Musk. (Ben Grabacz/Daily Mining Gazette)

HOUGHTON — Protesters gathered at the Houghton side of the Portage Lake Lift Bridge Monday to voice their displeasure with President Trump’s recent activity. The group of a few dozen carried signs and chanted political slogans opposing the current presidential administration for their “No King Day” march which crossed the bridge.

The reasons for the protest were varied, with some of the complaints targeting Elon Musk’s involvement in President Trump’s administration, the implementation of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), future tariffs, the ceasing of funds into USAID and the dismissal of federal employees. While the protest was described by some to be spontaneous, participants pointed to Sarah Green as the one who spread the word of the event.

Green was displeased with what she believes to be a takedown of the federal government by an oligarchy which is eliminating jobs.

“We have mass firings of federal workers,” Green said. “There’s 9,000 federal workers in the First District of Michigan. About 30 percent of them are veterans. About 40 percent of them work for veteran agencies. We have Forest Service personnel being fired all over the place, including people who support the forests and landowners in Michigan.”

Protester Bill Fink, of Houghton, echoed Green’s sentiments regarding federal employee dismissals. Fink is a retired federal employee who worked for the National Park Service for 34 years.

He said he is especially concerned with the dismissal of probationary employees.

“Firing probationary employees carte blanche and what the administration has done is to say they fired those employees because they were poor performers,” Fink said.

“That’s not the case, and that’s a stain on people’s records to have that happen.”

Protester, Jennifer Slack, said she believes medical care for many local citizens could be at risk.

“The problem is there are so many things here in the Keweenaw. There are thousands of people who are on Medicaid, who are going to lose their Medicaid,” she said.

“There are people who are losing their jobs who provide crucial services to like health care services.”