Latest news with #MichiganCapitol
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hundreds march at the Michigan Capitol against Trump policies, part of nationwide protests
Attendees of the Protect Democracy rally at the Michigan Capitol in Lansing, Michigan, on April 19, 2025. Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz On the 250th anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which kicked off the American Revolution, hundreds of Michiganders gathered outside the Michigan State Capitol Saturday to protest against the Trump administration and its actions, especially as they pertained to immigration. They also marched along the sidewalks surrounding the Capitol, joining protests taking place in cities across the country. The sound of church bells around downtown Lansing coincided with the start of the rally organized by Stand Against Extremism, or SAGE, and promoted on social media, highlighting their call for freedom, equality, and justice, and their solidarity with nationwide protests organized by grassroots protest group 50501. Protests were also held across Michigan, including in Coldwater, Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, Livonia, Port Huron, and Portage. As the first speakers took their positions at the entrance to the Capitol, hundreds more people approached the Capitol grounds with anti-Trump, anti-authoritarianism, and anti-Nazi signs and banners. 'This is the anniversary of the beginning of the American Revolution, and the democratic rights that were established during that revolution, and later confirmed and developed in the American Civil War, are now under attack,' said Tim Rivers, 65, a member of the socialist movement, during his speech. 'Hundreds have already been sent [to the El Salvodoran prison known as CECOT], and now Trump is threatening to take American citizens and deport them to El Salvador,' Rivers added. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX On April 17, Juan Carlos López-Gómez, 20, was released after being arrested in Florida by federal immigration agents, despite being a natural-born American citizen. However, Lopez-Gomez was not the only U.S citizen who had an encounter with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE. Ramiro Martinez, a Mexican immigrant and U.S. citizen, was surrounded and detained by ICE in Michigan earlier this month. Additionally, concerns about border patrol agents' actions under Trump's policies have been fueled by emails sent on April 11, around the country, by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to immigrants who entered the country using CBP One, a mobile app developed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, with an American citizen in Michigan also receiving those messages. Around 12:30, the march began on W. Allegan Street and marched once around the Capitol, as protesters chanted against the current administration. 'The purpose of our march was basically to defend our democracy. We wanted people to come out and express their discomfort with what is going on a national scale,' said Daniel Pfau, 37, a volunteer with SAGE. 'I hope that people see this event is by the people, for the people. We didn't need a national organization in charge. We showed up, and we took care.' After the march, a series of speakers took the microphone to express their concerns to the audience. Among the speakers were community members, social activists, and elected officials who primarily spoke out against the federal government's targeting of immigrants across the country. 'They are trying to distract us. They want people divided. They want to bring out the worst impulses in many people's hearts,' said State Rep. Jasper Martus (D-Flushing) during his speech. 'We need to think about all those folks who are going to church tomorrow morning and saying they're okay with deporting people who are here illegally. I'm a believer, but that's not what I believe in.' During the speeches, support was given for Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident the Trump administration erroneously deported to his native El Salvador, which was echoed and chanted by the audience in favor of his release and return to the US. Abrego Garcia was arrested March 12 as he drove his 5-year-old son home, and was informed by ICE agents that his status had changed, despite an order that determined it was more 'likely than not that he would be persecuted by gangs in El Salvador' if he were returned there, according to court documents. Although ICE accepted his deportation was due to an administrative error, and the Supreme Court of the United States later ordered his return, on April 14, U.S. President Trump and El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele announced in the Oval Office that they would not release Abrego Garcia. Toward the end of the demonstration, near the Capitol, on the side of North Capitol Avenue, a Trump supporter counter-protested, giving speeches and holding a sign that read 'God, put Trump in.' This situation generated tense moments among the protesters, who approached to confront and argue with the lone counter-protestor. By the end of the day, no acts of violence or physical confrontations had been reported. Attendee of the Protect Democracy rally at the Michigan Capitol in Lansing, Michigan, on April 19, 2025. Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Attendees of the Protect Democracy rally at the Michigan Capitol in Lansing, Michigan, on April 19, 2025. Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Attendees of the Protect Democracy rally at the Michigan Capitol in Lansing, Michigan, on April 19, 2025. Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Attendees of the Protect Democracy rally at the Michigan Capitol in Lansing, Michigan, on April 19, 2025. Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Attendees of the Protect Democracy rally at the Michigan Capitol in Lansing, Michigan, on April 19, 2025. Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Attendees of the Protect Democracy rally at the Michigan Capitol in Lansing, Michigan, on April 19, 2025. Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz State Representative Jasper Martus (D-Flushing) during his speech at the Protect Democracy rally at the Michigan Capitol in Lansing, Michigan, on April 19, 2025. Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Tim Rivers during his speech at the Protect Democracy rally at the Michigan Capitol in Lansing, Michigan, on April 19, 2025. Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz
CBS News
04-04-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Hands Off protests to be held April 5 in Detroit and around Michigan
More than 1,000 "Hands Off" protests will be held nationwide on Saturday, April 5, including protests in Detroit, Southeast Michigan and across the state. The main Detroit protest will start at the Detroit Institute of Arts. There is also a protest scheduled at the Michigan Capitol in Lansing. The nationwide protests are aimed at President Trump, billionaire Elon Musk and are organized by grassroots organizations, nonprofits and political groups. National organizers call the protests a "mobilization to stop the most brazen power grab in modern history," and say "Trump, Musk, and their billionaire cronies are orchestrating an all-out assault on our government, our economy, and our basic rights — enabled by Congress every step of the way." The protests will be held nationwide on Saturday, April 5, according to organizers. A majority of the protests held in Michigan will take place between noon and 4 p.m. The Detroit protest will begin at the Detroit Institute of Arts at 1 p.m., before embarking on a march to Grand Circus Park. "This mass mobilization day is our message to the world that we do not consent to the destruction of our government and our economy for the benefit of Trump and his billionaire allies," Detroit organizers said. "Alongside Americans across the country, we are marching, rallying, and protesting to demand a stop to the chaos and build an opposition movement against the looting of our country." The march is about 3.5 miles in length and is expected to conclude by 4 p.m. As of Friday, more than 50 protests are planned across Michigan. Protests will be held in cities like Detroit, Lansing, Grand Rapids, Traverse City, Sault Ste. Marie, Ann Arbor and Marquette. Hands Off protests are scheduled in all 50 states. You can view a full list of protest locations here .
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Final talks underway on setting Michigan's new minimum wage and tipped wage standards
Michigan Capitol | Susan J. Demas Sweeping changes to Michigan's standards on minimum wage and sick leave policies are set to take effect in nine days and it has business owners, service workers and lawmakers at odds with one another. In 2018 lawmakers in the Republican-led legislature implemented changes to raise minimum wage to $15, phase out tipped wage credits and set mandatory sick leave policies that were being sought after by a ballot petition at the time. But after lawmakers adopted the changes, they amended them following the election, in a maneuver the Michigan Supreme Court in 2024 said was unconstitutional, ordering the changes in the petition to be put in effect on Feb. 21 this year. Servers and restaurant-owners in Michigan have railed for and against the changes set to take effect in a few days and both the state Senate and House have introduced bills to amend the impending changes. State Senators heard testimony in the Senate Regulatory Affairs Committee on Wednesday from service industry members on the Senate's version to change minimum wage and preserve tipped wages. The then-Republican led legislature violated the people of Michigan's constitutional right to petition in 2018 to set rules on sick leave and minimum wage, Senate Regulatory Affairs Committee Chair Sen. Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield) said during a committee meeting Wednesday. '…the impact of that controversial decision making has pitted employer against employee, worker against worker and Michigander against Michigander. Today, we have to rise above that,' Moss said. 'I will tell you that we will have people here today from the same industry, owners and servers alike, on opposite sides of this issue.' Under the Supreme Court ruling, which lawmakers have the opportunity to preempt, minimum wage is set to rise from $10.56 to $15 in 2028 and tipped wages will increase annually to equalize Michigan's minimum wage by 2031. Many restaurant owners and servers have told lawmakers that they like the current system that allows businesses to pay servers a tipped wage, currently 38% of minimum wage, saying that with tips, servers make much more than they would if they were minimum wage employees. At the same time, some stakeholders say raising the minimum wage for all and eliminating tipped wages would work to lift up all workers. The legislation for consideration by the committee, Senate Bill 8 would speed up the timeline to a $15 minimum wage by 2027 and not phase out tipped wages completely, raising tipped wage slowly to 60% of minimum wage over the next decade. The restaurant industry is still licking its wounds from economic losses it suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic, President of the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association Justin Winslow said. Having to increase wages and then increase menu prices to compensate could be just the thing that causes small businesses to have to shutter their doors. 'You will see job loss. You will see some of the smaller, some of the more on the edge restaurants right now move towards closure,' Winslow said. '40% of the industry in Michigan right now is not making a profit. There's a staggering number. That means two out of five restaurants are on the edge of closure, and that's not sustainable. This is the kind of policy that would push them over the edge.' Swaths of servers have come to the Michigan Capitol Building to plead with lawmakers, saying that if tipped wages go away, customers will stop tipping. Loss of tips is not a reality, people will still tip for great service, President of One Fair Wage Saru Jayaraman said. 'There is the fear mongering that the restaurant association engages in in every state… where workers try to get a raise, they say tips will go away. They say restaurants will shut down. They do it in every single state. They have captive audience meetings with their workers and tell them 'your tips are going to go',' Jayaraman said. 'We have good news for everybody in the room, for all of you, and for the state of Michigan, the seven states that have already done this and the many more that have followed in the last several years since the pandemic, are doing great.' There are a lot of concerns on what iteration of a new policy is the right one and how each policy will be implemented, but it's important to note that there is opportunity for bipartisanship that both works for business owners and employees, Stacey LaRouche, press secretary for Governor Gretchen Whitmer said on behalf of the governor in a statement. 'Governor Whitmer has long opposed the unconstitutional tactic Republicans used to undercut working families and discourage companies from providing sick leave to employees,' LaRouche said. 'The administration has heard concerns about implementation of the new law, and the governor has made it clear that she is open to a bipartisan deal that protects servers and wait staff, while also providing certainty to small businesses and helping Michigan remain competitive.' Furthermore, LaRouche said the governor called on leadership of the House and Senate to work towards a bipartisan deal and come to an agreement this week. If they can not come to an agreement, Whitmer is calling for the legislature to pass a short-term extension putting off the Supreme Court rules until July 1 to allow more time for negotiations. Before lawmakers adjourned for the day Wednesday, the committee cleared the Senate's sick leave policy out of committee without the support of any of the four Republican members and with Sen. Sylvia Santana (D-Detroit) passing on the vote. The Senate's plan, Senate Bill 15, would require businesses with more than 25 employees to offer employees 72 hours of paid sick time. And small businesses would have to permit employees to earn 40 hours of paid sick time, as well as 32 hours of unpaid leave. The Regulatory Affairs Committee will reconvene Thursday afternoon to consider the future of the minimum and tipped wage standards under Senate Bill 8. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
