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Millions turned out at No Kings protests nationwide as a pushback against President Donald Trump’s policies on everything from tariffs to immigration raids.

Republicans criticized the protests — calling them the “hate America” rallies.

In Detroit, over ten thousand people rallied. The event started in Roosevelt Park in front of Michigan Central Depot.

Detroiter Imani didn’t want to give her last name out of fear for her safety. She wore a unicorn costume in solidarity with protesters in Portland.

“Portland is fighting hate with fun and being silly, and I like that,” she said. 

Imani adds that she’s bothered by how immigrants and U.S. citizens have been treated by federal law enforcement in other cities.

“That is a concern of mine, because Chicago is like our cousin. So if it’s happening over there, it could definitely happen over here, and that’s why I truly support what they’re doing, too, and support the way that they’re fighting back for their community.”

Following the rally, protesters marched to the Customs and Border Protection field office in Downtown Detroit.

Kassandra Rodriguez is with the Detroit Community Action Committee. She says the Trump Administration immigration crackdown means Detroit should be a sanctuary city. Rodriguez says that’s something she’s addressed with City Council President Mary Sheffield.

“When we’ve gone to city council and presented our ordinance, she did say that she would fight for immigrants, and I’m hoping that she holds to that promise.”

Rodriguez says many Latinx people stayed home in fear of ICE.

“A lot of them are very scared, you know, they view these big movements, big protests, as a place where they might get targeted. So it’s so important, even more important, that so many of us come out here and are able to elevate their voices and and share their stories.”

Detroiter Michelle Coates was near the rally, but not there to protest. She said she understands why people are upset.

“People’s tired of unrest, people’s tired of inflation, people’s tired of working day in day out, just to make ends meet. You know the cost of living is going up and up.”

Coates also echoes concerns about authoritarianism in the U.S.

“We, as people of the country of United States of America, is not just going to stand here and let him do and dictate the way he want to and just make us just bow down and just accept whatever he want to give us.”

Detroit Police arrested one pro-Trump counter protester. It was unclear if they made other arrests at the peaceful event.

More Michigan protests

Thousands more rallied across metro Detroit, with protests in Ferndale, Wyandotte and Dearborn. WDET Production Assistant José Llanas attended a No Kings rally in Ann Arbor in Veteran’s Park.

Listen what the protestors had to say below.

I think we’re moving in a direction that I just don’t really support. It would be really nice if we all got back to the normal course of business within government as well as everybody resorted back to just being decent people. Normal is what I would like to see.

 Nobody’s paying us to be here. We’re paying to be here. And, we need to end the fascism that’s happening right now. We need to save the immigrants in this country, and we need to save our citizens because we are next on the list… I just never thought that we would get here as a people.

I’ve got a lot of empathy for the people in the cities where the National Guard is actually being deployed, and so I think that the real emphasis needs to be placed on those places. And it’s fun to be here and it’s nice to have this community event, but also we need to remember why we’re here. And it’s not a really joyous thing.

Over ten thousand people rallied in Detroit on Saturday for the No Kings Protest. 

The event started in Roosevelt Park in front of the Michigan Central Depot. Kassandra Rodriguez spoke at the rally. Rodriguez is with the Detroit Community Action Committee. She says many Latinx people stayed home. 

“A lot of them are very sacred, you know, they are view these big movements, big protests, as a place where they might get targeted. So its important, even more important that so many of us come out there and are able to like elevate their voices and share their stories.” 

Following the rally, protesters marched to the Customs and Border Protection field office in Downtown Detroit. The event was peaceful, although Detroit Police arrested one pro-Trump counterprotester. 

– Reporting by Russ McNamara 

Additional headlines from Monday, October 20, 2025

Microplastics awareness

Oct. 19 through Oct. 26 is Microplastics Awareness Week. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) is inviting people to learn about the impact of microplastics, cleanups and prevention to reduce plastic use at home.

On Oct. 22  a free virtual Great Lakes Microplastics Summit will bring together scientists, policymakers and community members who will discuss microplastics and drinking water. 

For more details visit michigan.gov/egle 

MDHHS focuses on vaping during Fire Prevention Month

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is recognizing Fire Prevention Month. Part of that is raising awareness about vaping play that creates fire risk along with health concerns. 

MDHHS is sharing resources to educate Michiganders about a variety of topics  including reducing fire risks from smoking materials and e-cigarettes, protecting residents from secondhand smoke and aerosol exposure and lowering cleaning and maintenance costs for home owners and renters. 

More tips can be found at michigan.gov/smokefreehousing.  

Business workshop

ProsperUs Detroit is hosting a Business 101 Workshop in Highland Park next week.

The in-person event will take place at Avalon Village at 24 Avalon Street, Highland Park, MI on Wednesday, Oct. 29th from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. 

Dearborn public health director awarded

The Dearborn Department of Health’s public health director Ali Abazeed, has been recognized as part of 40 under 40 in Public Health.

The award is given by de Beaumont Foundation and it is the first of its kind to recognize and elevate leaders in public health. It honors people who work in leadership and community impact across institution through health departments, universities, nonprofits or in the private sector. 

If there is something happening in your neighborhood that you think we should know about, drop us a line at DetroitEveningReport@wdet.org.

Listen to the latest episode of the “Detroit Evening Report” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

Michigan’s September jobs report delayed by federal shutdown

Michigan could not publish its September jobs report because of the federal government shutdown.

The monthly jobs report shows the unemployment rate, the number of unemployed people, and other workforce information. It indicates which sectors of the economy are losing or gaining jobs — information important to academics, economists, government policymakers, and businesses.

The September data exists, but it hasn’t been shared because the employees who handle the report are furloughed.

The August report showed Michigan’s jobless rate was down slightly, largely because fewer people were looking for work.

Additional headlines for October 17, 2025

AB Ford Park reopens after $12 million renovation

The 34-acre AB Ford Park reopened this week after $12 million in renovations and cleanup.

The East Riverfront park now includes two new playgrounds, environmental remediation, a basketball court, riverwalk replacement, a nature meadow, and more. The park is next to the Community Center at AB Ford, which opened in 2023.

During the Cold War, AB Ford Park was a site for missile radar towers. The bases of two towers still stand in the park. Detroit City Walls plans to beautify those towers with a mural in spring 2026.

Detroit water aid program runs out of funds

A fund that helps Detroit water customers pay their bills has run out of state and federal money.

The Detroit Free Press reports the Water and Sewerage Department is restructuring its Lifeline Plan, which has helped thousands of customers since launching in 2022. Until now, most households on the plan paid as little as $18 a month for water.

The revised plan will raise monthly rates and serve fewer people in need.

Hamtramck councilmember to stand trial for election fraud

A Wayne County judge says enough evidence exists to try a Hamtramck City Council member for election fraud.

Prosecutors charged Mohammed Hassan with forging a woman’s signature on an absentee ballot in 2023. The Detroit News reports the woman did not vote in that election.

No Kings protests planned across Metro Detroit

A second round of No Kings protests is happening this Saturday, October 18, across the country — including several in Metro Detroit, such as at Roosevelt Park.

The protests are organized by the group 50501, which stands for “50 protests, 50 states, one movement.” Participants are protesting President Trump’s executive orders on immigration, foreign policy, federal spending cuts, civil rights, and more.

Organizers are asking people to wear yellow as a symbol of unity and hope.

Listen to the latest episode of the “Detroit Evening Report” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

A startup competition is soliciting business proposals from Indigenous entrepreneurs in Michigan. It’s called IndigiPitch, and it’s organized by 20 Fathoms, a tech startup incubator in northern Michigan.

Chief Financial Officer and Tribal Liaison Shiloh Slomsky says Native communities face more barriers to getting a business off the ground than other groups. “Number one is capital or access to representation at pitch events, or in front of venture capitals and even banking.”

IndigiPitch will place entrepreneurs in front of investors. A panel of Indigenous judges will choose the winners in December and award cash prizes.

-MPRN

Additional headlines from Tuesday, October 14, 2025

Daring Ideas for the Future

Urban Consulate’s Daring Ideas for the Future series will bring 3 MacArthur “geniuses” to Detroit this fall.

Pulitzer Prize winner and creator of the 1619 Project Nikole Hannah-Jones will speak with Outlier Media CEO Orland Jones on October 22. Jones will lead a discussion with author Jason Reynolds and opinion writer Tressie McMillan Cottom on November 19.

The Daring Ideas for the Future conversation series invites the community to “imagine and shape” a more just and equitable future. Both events will be held at the Garden Theater.

Admission is free but registration is required. For more information visit urbanconsulate.com/daringfuture 

Detroit Free Press Marathon 

The Detroit Free Press Marathon is this Sunday and organizers are inviting the community to come out to cheer the runners on.

Runners in the International Marathon, the International Half-Marathon and the Motor City Half-Marathon versions of the race will wind through parts of Midtown, the Cass Corridor, Eastern Market and downtown.

Police will start towing cars along the marathon route at around 2 a.m. Sunday morning and keep streets blocked until 2 p.m.

Check marathon routes and get more information at freepmarathon.com/marathon/ 

Halloween at Michigan Central Station

Michigan Central is hosting Halloween at the Station. The free family events includes an Outdoor Festival on the Michigan Central Lawn and LaCombe Street with an interactive science station arts and crafts, a selfie station, airbrush tattoos, cider, doughnuts and more.

Inside, DJ Dez Andres will be holding down the Halloween edition of Fridays at the Station with Gabriel Duran Band and percussionist Dez doing a bachata set, DJ Cisco spinning Detroit classics and global grooves, Motor City Street Dance Academy performing and teaching, and live painting by demaciiio.

Costumes are encouraged but masks are not allowed. Both events are free. No registration is required for the outdoor festival. Register for Fridays at the Station at michigancentral.com/events/ 

No Kings rallies this weekend

People in more than a hundred Michigan communities plan to join nationwide protests against the Trump administration this Saturday.

That includes a “No Kings” rally at Roosevelt Park in Corktown, at Parkwood Plaza in Oak Park, and at Lathrup Village City Hall. Millions attended similar demonstrations across the country in June.  

If there’s something in your neighborhood you think we should know about, drop us a line at DetroitEveningReport@wdet.org

Listen to the latest episode of the “Detroit Evening Report” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.