Demonstrators gather outside of U.S. Sen. Gary Peters’ Marquette office. (Journal photo by Annie Lippert)

MARQUETTE — A group of community members gathered on Thursday afternoon outside of Senator Gary Peters’ (D) office at 857 W. Washington St in Marquette in a peaceful demonstration.

The demonstration was organized by We the People MI, a state-wide organization which, according to its website, “[focuses] on local and regional issues that impact our communities, and on accountability for corporate and elite actors that often shape policy landscapes.”

“We are demonstrating because Senator Peters has committed to voting ‘no’ on ten billion dollars of DHS funding, which we know is getting used to brutalize communities in Minneapolis and terrorize folks all over the country right now,” said Ruby Miller, a community organizer with We the People MI. “We are out here in support of Peters’ commitment to vote ‘no,’ and to provide a little accountability.”

People carried signs with messages like “ICE out now” and “end cruelty.” One man carried a box with the phrase “letters for Senator Peters” written on it.

According to a press release sent out by Senator Peters’ office on Wednesday, Peters stated on the Senate floor that “there’s no question immigration enforcement is necessary, but we must conduct it in a way that is both humane and safe. Clearly, that’s not how this agency is operating today. But now is the time to act. I urge our Republican colleagues to join us in putting real guardrails in place, and not just acting as a rubber stamp for the Trump Administration.”

“We’re also here to make it known that there are things our communities actually need,” said Miller. “Ten billion dollars for ICE funding when we are having food security crises, and trouble finding housing, and trouble accessing medical care. We would like to see that money redirected to funding things our community actually needs.”

Annie Lippert can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext.. Her email address is alippert@miningjournal.net.