Twin City protests of Trump administration policies continued Thursday outside the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts.
Because Thursday also was International Workers’ Day, May Day protests were held across the nation. Organizers characterized the protests as pushback against the executive branch’s attacks on labor protections, diversity initiatives and federal employees, among others.
The “May Day Strong” protest was the third anti-Trump demonstration to be held outside the BCPA since Trump’s second inauguration. Patrick Cortesi, chair of the McLean County Democrats, said similar protests will continue to every other week for the foreseeable future.
“What I find particularly frustrating the last hundred days is just this Department of Government Efficiency [DOGE] and the slashing and cutting of departments with no rhyme or reason,” said Robyn Walter, a Bloomington resident.
“I agree we can be more efficient in any industry, right, including our government, but this is just mindless, careless, destructive slashing with no real, clear agenda that's impacting hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people.”
Changes in Trump’s first 100 days have included firing or buying out the contracts of thousands of federal workers, cuts to scientific research and Head Start as well as dismantling various federal agencies such as the Department of Education and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
In February, DOGE emailed government employees to ask for a list of things they accomplished in the last week. Emily, a federal worker at the rally, who declined to give her last name to avoid retaliation, said she opted not to do so, but knew many co-workers who did.
“I'm very disappointed in the way that monster is running the country at the moment. So just trying to make my voice heard,” she said.
Maggie Borkholder, of Hudson, has been to all three rallies in Bloomington since the inauguration. She brought two of her children to Thursday's protest.
“We're homeschoolers, actually, and I have a degree in politics and government with an emphasis in social justice, so we have kept that at the forefront of our education, and will continue to do so. They come to every rally with me,” said Borkholder.
“I'm trying to make my voice heard along with all the rest of these people,” added Cathie Haab, also of Hudson. “I feel that I'm at a point in my life where it's more important to me to stand up for what's right than to sit back and watch other people do it for me.”
