KALAMAZOO, MI — Community members gathered along East Michigan Avenue for pro-impeachment rallies held Tuesday, Dec. 17, the day before President Donald Trump visits nearby Battle Creek for his “Merry Christmas” campaign rally.

Cold temperatures Tuesday evening did not keep participants away, as sidewalks near the downtown Kalamazoo office of U.S. Rep. Fred Upton filled with citizens waving signs advocating for the impeachment and removal of the president. Upton, a St. Joseph Republican, recently issued a statement explaining his opposition to impeachment.

Hundreds of similar gatherings took place around the region and the country on the day before the U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on impeachment — a vote that could coincide with Trump’s Wednesday rally in Michigan.

Those rallying outside the building where Upton’s Kalamazoo office is located called on the congressman, who represents Southwest Michigan, to reverse his position.

Paul Clements, chairman of the group, said he was happy to see all the people gathering to rally.

“I’m glad that we’ve got [so many] people here saying that for our representative to represent us, he needs to vote to impeach Donald Trump,” Clements said.

Clements, a Western Michigan University professor, has previously challenged Upton as a Democrat in 2014 and 2016, but did not receive enough signatures to be on the primary ballot in 2018.

The picket in Kalamazoo began at about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday as about 60 people gathered for the “Vote to Impeach Trump” rally organized by Michigan Sixth District Democrats.

Crowd members varied in ages. Northern Michigan University freshman Abigail King said she grew up in the Kalamazoo area, is back in town for winter break and decided to participate in Tuesday’s rally.

King added that she was an intern for Democrat Matt Longjohn’s campaign to unseat Upton in 2018.

“I want Upton to listen to his constituents and understand he’s a representative of the people and he should vote for what we want,” King said.

Upton has served 16 consecutive terms in Congress since 1986, and was most recently reelected to a 17th term in November 2018, defeating challenges from Longjohn and U.S. Taxpayer Party candidate Stephen Young.

Upton has not yet formally announced whether he will seek reelection to an 18th term in 2020, but will again face challengers if he does.

State Rep. Jon Hoadley, D-Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo teacher Jen Richardson, and Aida Estrada Gray have all filed to run as Democrats, according to 2020 election data from the Federal Election Commission. Republican candidate Elena Oelke and independent candidate Andrew Tidwell have also filed to run for the seat in Congress, FEC data shows.

As the evening rally stretched on, more and more protesters joined the crowd alongside the busy road. Some passing vehicles honked and cheered for those filling the sidewalks.

Signs reading “Vote to impeach” and “Retire Upton” shook in the breeze and the crowd was ushered a block east to the nearby Kalamazoo Nature Center Urban Nature Park for the next phase of events.

A second event, “Nobody is Above the Law,” began at the new location as organizers engaged with participants with call-and-response questions and statements.

Hoadley talked with participants and made a short speech.

“Here’s the deal,” Hoadley said. “It’s never too late to do the right thing. We are here tonight to remind Congressman Upton of his oath in office.”