Muskegon, Michigan has had double digit unemployment for years, with U6 unemployment in the 20% range for years. And it's not a particularly HUGE town. So MOST of the time it's pretty easy to find parking in downtown Muskegon, Michigan.
Most of the time.
But not today. We tried outside the CIO hall. We tried down by the LC Walker Arena that overlooks the commercial docks on Muskegon Lake. We tried the hotel parking lot and along the roads. But dangitall if the downtown was flooded with cars bearing mysterious bumper stickers saying things like "boilermakers union" "UAW" "steel worker's union".
Eventually we sort of wedged ourselves between a car and a road sign on a lot where a building once stood. Incidentally the missing building was once a restaurant called Al Capone's so named because Al Capone used to vacation here and supposedly hang out at that establishment.
And then we walked down the street that looked mostly empty wondering where everybody was...an older man passed us by going the opposite direction and said "you here for the rally?"
"Yeah!"
"Well it's right around that block...I gotta go, but you can have my sign." He handed me a cardboard sign saying "Hear Our Voice November 6th!"
Then we turned the corner to find a mass of people protesting Rick Snyder's union busting, removal of the earned income tax credit for low wage earners, taxes on pensions, tax increases for mom and pop businesses, slashes to school budgets and HUGE, 86% tax giveaways to large businesses.
It was difficult to hear the speakers. But it was easy to hear the crowd of 500 people or so...
"We are one! We are one! We are one! We are one!"
My friend and previous Michigan State representative Mary Valentine organized this rally with two folks Steve Kegolovitz an John DeWolf. Last year she ran against Republican Geoff Hansen for State Senate in a pretty vile campaign full of misinformation and slander that of course Hanson says he's not responsible for.
Despite her loss...she's doubled down on her activity in the region, pulling people together and fighting for the middle class and low wage earners.
Throughout the rally my six year old son was audibly ready to leave. Bored.
Then I told him why we were there:
"These people are here because they are mad at the person who was elected to be Governor."
"Why?"
"Because he is giving MORE money to people who have a lot of money and he's TAKING money away from your school and your teacher."
My son looked mad and confused
"But....that's OPPOSITE of what we should do!"
"That's right. It's opposite of what we should do."