Crowds across Michigan gather to call for impeachment of President Donald Trump

Kathleen Gray and Caitlin Taylor | Detroit Free Press and Monroe News

Show Caption Hide Caption U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin on impeachment decision of President Trump U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin explains impeachment decision of President Donald Trump during a contentious town hall meeting at Oakland University.

FERNDALE – They lined several blocks of the city's main intersection, waving signs, chanting tried-and-true political slogans and hoping for the removal of an American president.

On the eve of a historic vote to impeach a sitting president, thousands gathered in the streets of hundreds of cities across the nation to rally for the impeachment and removal of President Donald Trump.

"Donald Trump should be impeached. He really needs to go. I can't stand another day of his antics," said Faith Allen, of Hazel Park, who was dressed like the Statue of Liberty and standing on the median at Nine Mile and Woodward in Ferndale with several hundred other impeachment supporters. "I've had it. I've had enough. I just think he's the worst president we've ever had."

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That president, however, will return to Michigan on Wednesday for a holiday rally at the Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek. Trump will be joined by Vice President Mike Pence for the campaign event, which begins at 7 p.m. It will be the first time Trump has been back to Michigan — a state he narrowly won by a 10,704-vote margin over Democrat Hillary Clinton — since a March rally in Grand Rapids.

Michigan is key in the 2020 election cycle, it was one of three Midwestern states — along with Wisconsin and Pennsylvania — that flipped from blue to red in the 2016 presidential cycle, giving Trump the electoral votes he needed to win the White House.

So the stakes of the impeachment vote, expected Wednesday, are high. And even though the crowd instinctively knew that a majority of the members of the Democrat-led U.S. House of Representatives would vote for the impeachment, and the proceedings will likely stall in the U.S. Senate, where Republicans hold the majority, they still wanted to let their feelings be known.

"Regardless of what happens in the Senate, it's important that each one of those members of the Senate go on record with their vote," said Sherri Masson of Milford. "Because if we don't hold him accountable for what has happened: for eliciting help from a foreign entity, for obstructing a congressional investigation, then that's a green light for any future president to abuse his powers."

The chants were familiar: "Lock him up," "Hey, Hey, Ho, Ho, Donald Trump has got to go," and "This is what Democracy Looks Like." And the signs ranged from the mundane to the profane. And the cars whizzing by on Woodward provided the soundtrack to the rally with their constant honking.

If it passes, Trump would become only the third President of the United States to be impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives, joining former Presidents Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton in a club that no politician wants to join.

The House will vote on two articles of impeachment: abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

The charges against Trump stem from his attempt to enlist Ukraine's assistance in his reelection campaign by withholding military aid appropriated by Congress and a face-to-face meeting with Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskiy, and his continuing obstruction of congressional efforts to investigate his conduct.

The Democratic majority in the House is widely expected to vote in favor of the articles of impeachment against Trump, sending them before the end of the year to the Senate, where a trial would be held next year. It is considered unlikely, however, that the Republican majority in the Senate will vote to remove Trump from office, which would require a two-thirds majority in the chamber.

Tim Sawmiller of Commerce Township held a sign that read: "Impeach and Remove the Traitor" on one side and "Treason is a crime. Impeach Trump" on the other.

Getting members of the Senate on record with their yes or no votes on removing Trump from office is key.

"Any of those senators who votes to keep him are going to be on record supporting his treasonous behavior," he said. "In 2018, the House flipped because we were unhappy with Trump and this rally is a result of that."

Other "Nobody is Above the Law" rallies were held in Ann Arbor, Rochester Hills, Monroe, Detroit, Southgate, Lansing, Traverse City, Cadillac, Tawas City, Muskegon, Saugatuck, Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, Grand Rapids, Flint, Adrian, Bay City and Munising, Sault Ste. Marie and Monroe.

In Monroe, more than 80 residents and visitors — ranging from 9 to 75 years old — gathered at West Elm Avenue and North Monroe Street on Tuesday in advance of Wednesday's expected impeachment vote to make their voices heard.

Under the national protest theme of "Nobody is Above the Law," ralliers gathered, carrying signs that used a bit more quip to represent their frustration with the president.

“Dump Trump,” one of dozens of picket signs read, alluding to a phrase that quickly popularized among protesters after the November 2016 election.

“Make America Kind Again,” another said, playing off Trump’s well-known campaign slogan.

But a crowd favorite — “Fire the Fool” — depicted America’s 45th president in a comedic jester costume in a homemade sign that dates to April Fools Day 2017.

“I used to live in Maryland, near (Washington) D.C., and I’d take it down to the White House for protests. Usually, it gets a good response,” said Laurie Stewart of Brownstown Township. “I can understand if people disagree with policies, but … this isn’t policy; it’s democracy.”

Sharon McNeil, event organizer and head of the Together Huddle, a local branch of National Huddlers aimed at re-energizing the feminist movement, called the impending impeachment vote "a historic and solemn time."

“We are here to have a peaceful presence and to show that no one is above the law," she said. “A lot of these people are new people. Some said they just heard about it at the last minute, and they were enthusiastic about impeaching the president. I think there’s some new groundswell for interest, and I’m thankful for that.”

Sam Stavreski, of Canton, who traveled to Monroe to support a smaller community than his own, said he is frustrated with what he sees happening in Washington.

“I’m frustrated as an American with our president flaunting his power and not accepting oversight of Congress,” Stavreski said. “I’m frustrated, and I’m not going to take it anymore.”

Stavreski was among several participants who chose the impeachment matter to spur their first-time involvement in a community-organized rally.

The group spent several hours chanting for the president’s removal and waving signs at motorists passing the Gen. George Armstrong Custer statue. Several drivers “honked” in support of the protesters, who bundled up for a brisk evening. But some yelled or made gestures in support of Trump.

Despite the large show of support, several protesters said they didn't feel hopeful about the outcome of the impeachment inquiry, largely because of partisan politics in Washington.

“It’s really alarming, the partisanship applying to the basics of humanity,” said Matthew Hill of Monroe. “I was hoping to see some good come out of this, and it’s really inspiring to be here."

“At this point, things are so dire, we need to show solidarity,” he said.

Contact Kathleen Gray: 313-223-4430, kgray99@freepress.com or on Twitter @michpoligal. Contact Caitlin Taylor: ctaylor@monroenews.com.