.jpg)
Ely joined in and was one of more than 1,400 communities across the nation to hold demonstrations to protest against President Trump and Elon Musk.
Whiteside Park was home to a Hands Off! protest, and about 160 people turned out for Saturday’s event.
Many held signs and placards protesting actions taken by the Trump Administration since the president returned to office in late January.
The Ely protesters joined those across the country as part of “a nationwide mobilization to stop the most brazen power grab in modern history. Trump, Musk, and their billionaire cronies are orchestrating an all-out assault on our government, our economy, and our basic rights—enabled by Congress every step of the way.”
Ozzie Reif was one of the local organizers and helped put together the event after attending a town hall hosted by former DFL Congressional candidate Jen Schultz last month.
“Our Congressman, Pete Stauber, completely discredited (the Schultz event) by saying they were primarily paid agitators,” said Reif. “So to me, why would I go to a big city if it’s just going to be discredited when I can do something in Ely that’s visible and definitely legitimate, where people could see it’s people from Ely where everybody knows everyone.”
Reif added, “I saw this push to have a nationwide effort since the big changes have been happening in the federal government.”
Despite chilly temperatures and a brisk wind, a crowd made up almost entirely of Ely area residents turned out the park, holding signs and waving at motorists passing by.
“It was pretty impressive,“ said Reif. “It was sort of a long time and people trickled in and out.”
Among the homemade signs were slogans including “Democracy Not Oligarchy,” “Hands Off My Social Security,” “Trump’s Tariffs Will Cost Big Time,” “Don’t Tread On Me,” and “Morons Are Governing America.”
“I think there was a lot of good connecting people who hadn’t seen each other in a while,” said Reif. “There was general dissatisfaction with how things are going in the country. I talked to a local business owner who does 40 percent of their business with Canada and who will be negatively impacted by the tariffs. I talked to federal workers who are being treated unfairly and have to go through a whole rigmarole. I talked to people from minority groups who think their rights are being infringed on. Even down to local issues including Ely’s drinking water pipeline and the funding that disappeared for that project.”
Similar protests were held in other Minnesota cities Saturday including both Duluth and St. Paul.
