MARQUETTE — On Aug. 8, a group of area residents led by the Upper Peninsula Libertarian Party, a newly formed affiliate of the Libertarian Party, will come together to protest the Commission on Presidential Debates’ “continued decision to silence third party presidential candidates by keeping them off the debate stage, even when — like Libertarian presidential candidate Dr. Jo Jorgensen — they qualify on enough state ballots to potentially garner the electoral votes needed to win election,” organizers said in a press release.

Protesters will begin gathering outside the Marquette County Courthouse at noon and a brief rally will commence at 12:30 p.m. Then a convoy will drive through the city of Marquette in a COVID-safe demonstration going down Lakeshore Boulevard., East Fair Avenue and Presque Isle Avenue down to Wright Street and looping back to the courthouse via Tracy Avenue, Seventh Street, West Washington Street and South Fourth Street.

Another brief rally will be held outside the courthouse to close out the demonstration. Both the local demonstration and others around the country will be livestreamed simultaneously on Facebook. More information, including the complete route of the convoy, is available on the event section of the Upper Peninsula Libertarian Party Facebook group.