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On Saturday, as millions of people protested what they see as President Trump’s federal overreach, an assassin allegedly killed a former Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband. The victims were on a manifesto with about 70 names connected to abortion rights advocates and Democratic officials.

Historian Jeremi Suri says this tension and violence is nothing new, reminiscent of the assassination of Lincoln, the social upheaval of the 1960s, even the January 6th Insurrection and its aftershocks. He joins us on The Metro today to give us more on how history repeats itself, and what this violence means for our democracy.

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“DDOT Now,” Detroit Paratransit’s Same-Day Service

DDOT launches same-day paratransit service for Detroiters with disabilities

The Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) launched a new same-day paratransit program called DDOT Now on Monday. The service allows residents with disabilities to schedule rides the day before or up to an hour in advance.

Robert Cramer, executive director of Transit, says the new program gives riders more flexibility. “The new service allows people to schedule transportation on short notice,” he said.

Paratransit services are guaranteed under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in accessing public accommodations — including transportation.

DDOT Now operates between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Riders can schedule a trip by calling 313-570-6845 between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. The fare is $2.50 per ride, and the program is supported by federal and local funding.

The city has recently made improvements to DDOT’s paratransit services, including better on-time performance and the hiring of additional staff

Download the PDF to learn more. 

Thousands rally in Metro Detroit as part of nationwide ‘No Kings’ protests

Tens of thousands of people rallied across Metro Detroit on Saturday as part of the national “No Kings” protests against authoritarianism.

Many demonstrators carried signs criticizing President Donald Trump’s immigration policies and his decision to deploy Marines and National Guard troops to protests in Los Angeles.

At a rally in Southwest Detroit, high school student Julio Henry gave an impassioned speech in support of immigrants.

“We are here in the United States to come together,” Henry said. “Our diversity is what makes the United States the United States.”

Henry added that young people are paying attention to national politics and they’re not pleased with what they see.

“We call him so many things, the fascist, the dictator, the white supremacist, but what we all agree on is he should not be our president,” Henry said.

The event in Detroit remained largely peaceful. However, a brief altercation broke out when members of a local biker gang arrived and began harassing protesters. Detroit police quickly intervened to defuse the situation.

Reporting by Russ McNamara, WDET

MDOT to extend life of I-75 Rouge River bridge with surface treatment

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is planning a two-year project to coat the surface of the I-75 Rouge River bridge in Detroit.

Crews previously rebuilt the bridge deck in 2017 and 2018. Project engineer Bill Erben says the structure is in good shape, but additional work will help preserve it.

“Sandblasting and smoothing the concrete will make it last longer,” Erben said.

MDOT plans to close the Rouge River bridge eight times this year and eight more times in 2026, each time affecting one direction of traffic at a time.

The first closure was scheduled to begin last Friday on northbound I-75 between Schaefer Road and I-96, but the threat of rain delayed the start.

Reported by Pat Batcheller, WDET

Republican-backed budget would slash funding for U-M and MSU, expand support for other public universities

The University of Michigan could lose a significant portion of its state funding under a higher education budget passed by the Michigan House of Representatives late last week.

The plan would also reduce funding for Michigan State University, while increasing support for most of the state’s other public universities.

Republican House Appropriations Committee Chair Ann Bollin said U-M and MSU rely less on state support than other schools. She and other GOP lawmakers say they hope the proposed cuts will reduce the number of out-of-state and international students at those institutions.

The education budget bill would also eliminate funding for free K-12 school meals across the state.

Reported by Collin Jackson, Michigan Public Radio Network

Taste of Dearborn returns with food tour of 20 local restaurants

The Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting its annual Taste of Dearborn event this week, offering visitors a chance to sample dishes from local restaurants.

The event takes place Wednesday, June 18, from 6 to 9 p.m. Check-in begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Bryant Branch Library.

About 1,000 attendees are expected to tour 20 restaurants in Downtown West Dearborn.

General admission is $35, and a VIP experience is $50. Tickets are available at www.dearbornareachamber.org

Protesters across Michigan and the nation rally against Trump’s policies

Tens of thousands of protesters rallied in Michigan against what they see as acts of authoritarianism by President Donald Trump and his administration.

Last week, the president ordered National Guard troops into Los Angeles, California, against the wishes of the governor. He also deployed several hundred Marines. While the protests in L.A. have been largely peaceful, local police have repeatedly used tear gas and rubber bullets on demonstrators.

Protesters in Michigan were part of a nationwide outpouring of opposition to President Donald Trump. As reported by the Associated Press, “Masses of demonstrators packed into streets, parks and plazas across the United States on Saturday to protest President Donald Trump, marching through downtowns and small towns, blaring anti-authoritarian chants mixed with support for protecting democracy and immigrant rights.”

Detroit officials and residents speak out

At a rally Saturday at Clark Park in Southwest Detroit, Michigan Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) said protests are effective.

“We did not get the Civil Rights Act because somebody in Congress woke up one day and said, ‘Geez, that’s a really good idea.'”

Tlaib said the city has a long history of fighting for civil rights.

“I mean, we’ve birthed movements. If there’s any city that’s going to end fascism, it’s Detroit.”

Detroiter Roger Paz was brought to the U.S. from Peru by his parents in the late 1960s. He said he’s baffled by the hate directed toward immigrants.

“I have always been proud of the immigrant tradition of this country. And to be anti-immigrant, I think it is like the most anti-American thing you can be.”

With a smile, Paz said targeting Latinos in the U.S. is pretty silly given this country’s history.

“I wish these Spanish speaking people would get out of our country, like, get out of California, Florida, Nevada, San Francisco, San Diego, Los Alamos, San Antonio, Las Vegas, Florida,” Paz said. “What are these Spanish speaking people doing in Sacramento?”

Calls for community solidarity

Immigration and Customs Enforcement have been conducting raids in Southwest Detroit. The area is home to a large immigrant community.

Detroit City Councilwoman Gabriela Santiago-Romero said now is the time to take care of the community.

“Get to know your neighbors, jot down their numbers, call to see how they’re doing. Do you have an undocumented family on your block with young children? Offer to take them to school. Do you have elders that are scared to pick up their medication and go to the doctors? Give them a ride. Find translation services. Be of help.”

Warren resident Leigh Benigni protested in Roseville. She criticized what she called Trump’s hypocrisy for supporting law and order while ignoring the courts.

“We also happen to have a queer daughter and the thought of someone wanting to jail her or prosecute her just for who she loves… it’s just mind-blowing,” Benigni said. “I just feel stirred within my being to fight for what I know is good about this country.”

Christian Pierce of Harsens Island said he hopes to change the minds of conservatives backing Trump.

“If that’s my countrymen, I don’t really identify with them. And you know when you’re old you’re looking at limited time,” Pierce said. “So if you believe in it, you’ve gotta try.”

Emphasis on mutual care and long-term activism

In the crowd in Ferndale, Tiffany Perkins of Royal Oak said now is the best time to take care of others.

“Look out for your neighbors, look out for your friends, look out for your family, and if we come together, we’ll be stronger,” Perkins said. “Don’t let fear keep you from doing the right thing and having empathy.”

Perkins also worries that unexpected, swift deportations will leave pets and other dependent animals behind without needed food and shelter.

In immigration court in Detroit last week, several immigrants seeking asylum had their cases dismissed and were arrested by ICE agents — fast-tracking them for forcible removal.

In Lansing, Michigan State medical student Elizabeth Shokoya protested in 2020 during Black Lives Matter demonstrations. But she said this moment feels different.

“This one feels more impending doom. Like it’s not only impacting people who are minorities. It’s impacting women. It’s impacting disabled people. It’s impacting everyone. And it feels like you need to be out here to say something because if you don’t say something, then they’re just going to take everything away from us and we’ll regret it,” Shokoya said.

Liz Kelley demonstrated in Elk Rapids, in northern Michigan’s Antrim County. She’s a substitute teacher and a single mother of three. Her family relies on food assistance and Medicaid. Kelley worries that Trump’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” will continue to slash safety nets for low-income families.

“Great societies shouldn’t be judged by the top tier of their wealth but by how they care for their most vulnerable,” Kelley said. “So how are we seeking the needs of those who aren’t meeting them on their own? I think that’s a virtuous thing. And we shouldn’t have the stigma that we’ve failed — but that we’re looking out for each other.”

Also at the rally in Lansing, organizer Megan Ropeta said more major rallies will come if President Trump doesn’t change his policies.

“This is not a sprint. This is a long game so we’re in it, we’re buckling in and we’re going to be planning stuff like this for as long as it takes,” Ropeta said.

In a statement shared with the Associated Press, the No Kings Coalition said, “Today, across red states and blue, rural towns and major cities, Americans stood in peaceful unity and made it clear: we don’t do kings.”

Demonstrations widespread and largely peaceful

Large protests also took place in Grand Rapids, Petoskey, Marquette, Troy and Wyandotte.

John DeSpelder leads Traverse Indivisible, the left-leaning civics group that organized the No Kings protest in Traverse City. He says thousands attended, making it the group’s largest demonstration to date.

“I think a lot of people are watching the news and feeling real anguish,” DeSpelder said. “Especially in more conservative areas, folks sometimes feel like they’re the only ones who think this way. But when people show up in large numbers, it opens the door to conversation and reminds them they’re not alone.”

The demonstrations were peaceful. In Clark Park, members of the notorious Highwaymen Motorcycle Club showed up to instigate fights with protesters. There was a brief scuffle, but Detroit Police quickly broke it up.

AP journalists also reported, “Confrontations were isolated. But police in Los Angeles, where protests over federal immigration enforcement raids erupted a week earlier and sparked demonstrations across the country, used tear gas and crowd-control munitions to clear out protesters after the formal event ended.”

Associated Press material contributed to this report.

Photos from around Metro Detroit

We’re coming off a powerful weekend of action. Millions of people in hundreds of cities were united in “No Kings” protests that swept the country. 

Americans were out to condemn what many see as President Donald Trump’s federal overreach, aggressive anti‑immigrant enforcement, and a military parade that celebrated him and the U.S. Army. 

In Los Angeles, protesters have been out for days and Trump responded with a page from the authoritarian playbook. He deployed thousands of National Guard troops and hundreds of active-duty Marines onto the streets of L.A. On Friday, for the first time in recent history, military personnel temporarily detained a civilian.

Here in Detroit, thousands raised their voices at Clark Park, shouting “down with deportations.” Local advocates say ICE agents recently arrested a Venezuelan family in Southwest Detroit moments after their asylum hearing was dismissed. At the McNamara federal courthouse, asylum seekers were detained just as judges ended their proceedings. 

That tactic — attend your immigration hearing and risk arrest — is becoming common.

An almost-graduated Detroit high school student was also detained during a traffic stop on his way to a school field trip. He was deported last week despite many calls from the community urging officials to let him temporarily stay. 

To help us think about this moment, we’re joined by attorney and professor Sabrina Balgamwalla. She’s the director of the Asylum and Immigration Law Clinic at Wayne State University. 

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming  on demand.

More stories from The Metro

Protests against President Donald Trump’s executive order activating more than 4,000 National Guard members and 700 Marines in Los Angeles have ignited unrest across the country.

This weekend, “NO KINGS” protests are scheduled in multiple cities, drawing people from all backgrounds—including faith leaders like Rev. Barry Randolph. A lifelong Detroiter, Rev. Barry recently spoke at a press conference urging peaceful demonstrations and is now joining us on The Metro to share why he’s calling people to the streets this Saturday.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming  on demand.

More stories from The Metro

Subscribe to the Detroit Evening Report on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

New travel ban takes effect

President Trump’s latest travel ban targeting 12 countries—many of them Muslim-majority or located in South America and Africa—went into effect today. The proclamation blocks travel to the U.S. for individuals without a valid visa from: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.

Seven additional countries also face restrictions: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.

Last week, the Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR Michigan) issued a community alert urging individuals from the affected countries to return to the U.S. by today if possible.

CAIR Michigan staff attorney Amy Doukoure says the new restrictions could have immediate consequences.

“We might also see people who have a valid visa who don’t quite make it into the United States by June 9, unable to actually enter on the visa that they’re issued. And we will definitely see people who are here on a current valid visa, being unable to travel outside of the United States and then reenter once the travel ban takes effect.” 

Doukoure says the policy mirrors previous bans issued during Trump’s first term. She warns it will likely separate families and increase anxiety among communities from the affected countries.

Local ICE protests

About 50 protesters gathered near an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Detroit on Sunday, voicing opposition to the Trump administration’s mass deportation raids.

Russ McNamara reports from the protest.

Leah Checchini of Hazel Park attended the rally. She says her father immigrated from Argentina and believes everyone deserves the same opportunity.

“Just seeing everything that’s going on around me—I have a lot of friends who are in the process of getting their papers taken care of—so watching what’s happening to people like them is enraging, to say the least.”

More protests are planned in cities across the country.

Free clinic offers help with license restoration

The Michigan Department of State is hosting a free clinic to help residents restore their driver’s licenses. The Road to Restoration clinic will take place Tuesday, June 24 at the La SED Senior and Youth Center, located at 7150 Vernor Highway in Detroit. Department staff and pro bono attorneys will be on-site to assist with the process. The clinic runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with walk-ins welcome between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Register at michigan.gov/r2r.

New guidelines added to Michigan’s Eat Safe Fish Guide

About 300 new recommendations have been added to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ Eat Safe Fish Guide, with a renewed focus on reducing exposure to PFAS—commonly known as “forever chemicals.”

Officials say the chemicals are more harmful than previously thought. The updated guidelines outline which waterways are safe for fishing and how much of each species is safe to consume. For example, it’s considered safe to eat up to four servings of Bluegill per month from the Detroit River, but Bluegill from Belleville Lake should be completely avoided due to elevated PFAS levels.

Because PFAS are found in the fish fillet, simply trimming fat won’t reduce exposure. However, poking holes in the skin and grilling or broiling the fish can help lower the risk.

You can find the full Eat Safe Fish Guide at michigan.gov.

Reporting by Emma George-Griffin

Fall prevention resources available for Michigan seniors

Several groups are coming together to offer fall prevention resources for seniors. Each year, about 30 percent of Michiganders 65 and older report falling in their homes.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ Bureau of Aging, Community Living and Supports Health Services, the Michigan Falls Prevention Coalition, and Oakland University have partnered to connect people with health care providers, community organizations, and fall prevention resources.

People can explore safety planning tools, physical wellness services, and daily life support online at mi211.org. You can also call 211 for help finding resources.

The website was made possible by a $408,000 grant from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund Healthy Aging initiative.

Learn more at mifallsprevention.org.

Unhappy with the Trump Administration’s arrests of undocumented immigrants, about 50 protesters demonstrated near an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Detroit on Sunday.

Mass arrests and deportations, including some that continue to violate court orders, have sent many to the streets in protest.

Over the weekend, law enforcement in Los Angeles, CA attacked protesters and journalists with tear gas and projectiles injuring dozens.

The crowd was small but vocal, chanting “Summer’s here, melt the ICE, immigrants deserve their rights,” along with chants in Spanish that included expletives aimed at ICE.

Mike Barber, a special education teacher from White Lake, was among them. He says he’s troubled by the administration’s actions.

“This is against what America stands for,” Barber says. “America is a nation of immigrants and now they want to kick them out without even looking at their papers.”

“It could be us next if we’re disliked.”

“I mean, here at Wayne State, we had people that got their F1 visas canceled,” Pico says. “These aren’t criminals, and the fact that Trump wants to portray them like that, I mean, he’s just racist.”

Jo Pico was drawn to protest after seeing the police-initiated violence in LA.

Leah Checchini of Hazel Park says her father immigrated from Argentina and that she believes everyone should have the same opportunity that he did.

“I have a lot of friends that are in the process of getting their papers taken care of and everything,” Checchini says. “So just seeing what’s happening to people is enraging, to say the least.”

Nationwide protests are planned for Saturday. It coincides with a planned show of military might by President Trump.

The President is celebrating his birthday with a military parade in Washington D.C.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has abruptly dropped all charges against seven pro-Palestinian protesters arrested during an on-campus demonstration last year.

The felony charges alleged that the protesters were obstructing and resisting arrest as police were breaking up a pro-Palestinian encampment on the University of Michigan Diag. 

Nessel was reportedly asked by members of the University of Michigan Board of Regents to investigate the protesters after local prosecutors decided not to press charges.

Civil rights attorney Amir Makled says it never made sense for the AG to get involved in the first place. Citing concerns of potential bias, Makled asked the judge in the case to urge the state end the prosecution.

“It is a little surprising that on the eve of a motion to disqualify the attorney general’s office that the defense filed, the AG decides to just drop the case entirely,” he said.

In a statement, Nessel denied allegations of bias and criticized the pace of the judge handling the case – calling the matter a “circus-like atmosphere.”

Nevertheless, Makled says dismissing the case was the right move.

“We hope this sends a clear message to institutions across the state and the nation that protest is not a crime and dissent is not disorder,” he said.

Nessel — who is Jewish — says her involvement in the case was not evidence of bias and called the accusation “baseless and absurd.”