A Different Kind of Protest in Grand Rapids

Grand Rapids residents will not see the same large street march that marked last year's "No Kings" protest on Sunday, June 14. Organizers have pivoted to a watch party format for the fourth round of the nationwide movement.

The event will center on a 90-minute national concert livestream from New York City. The "Rise Up, Sing Out" concert features performers including Rufus Wainwright, Bette Midler and Patti Smith. The show is timed to coincide with President Donald Trump's 80th birthday and Flag Day.

Fountain Street Church Hosts the Watch Party

Becky Palmer, who co-leads the progressive grassroots group Indivisible Greater Grand Rapids, said the Grand Rapids watch party will be held at Fountain Street Church, located at 24 Fountain St. NE. The event runs from 5 to 9 p.m.

"We want the focus to be on our priorities," Palmer said.

The church event will also feature an interactive art installation. Attendees can illustrate the world they would like to see using postcards. Palmer said the postcards will be used later for messaging, but emphasized that the main goal is helping people maintain hope that they have a voice.

The Bigger Picture: 2026 Midterm Elections

Palmer said the shift in format reflects a broader shift in focus among local activist groups. With the 2026 midterm elections approaching, organizers are prioritizing voter mobilization over large-scale protests.

"People are worried about immediate things, like the cost of gas, the cost of groceries, being able to afford housing, losing jobs," Palmer said.

She said voters in West Michigan are motivated. But she also noted that daily distractions make it difficult for people to look past immediate needs and engage with the broader political process.

Both Parties Push to Get Out the Vote

The 2026 midterms include several high-stakes statewide races. Michigan's gubernatorial, secretary of state and attorney general positions are all up for grabs. The state also has an open U.S. Senate seat.

Michigan GOP Chair Jim Runestad told MLive that the Republican National Committee has hired nearly two dozen people to help with voter education efforts in Michigan. He described the state as the most important pathway to victory.

"We're going to have incredible resources coming into Michigan," Runestad said.

On Tuesday, June 9, the Kent County GOP hosted a town hall event for governor candidate and former Attorney General Mike Cox. Cox told a room of around 40 attendees that small margins can decide elections.

"So if you don't think you can make a difference, you absolutely can," Cox said. "You absolutely did for me. You did for President Trump in 2016, when he won by 11,000 votes, and we all will do that again this year."

Other Michigan Events

The national "No Kings" movement is hosting roughly 300 watch-party events around the world. Most are clustered in the United States, with at least one gathering in Paris.

Other Michigan events listed on the No Kings website include Hastings, Bay City, East Lansing, Benton Harbor, Greenville, Manchester, Mt. Pleasant, Milford, Lapeer and West Branch.

In Muskegon, Barbara Kolen, a co-founder of Indivisible on the Lakeshore, said her group will hold a two-mile march down Sherman Boulevard beginning at 1 p.m. in Seyferth Park. Members will also host a "birthday boy bash" protest at 3 p.m. on the corner of Savidge Street and Lake Avenue, along with a concert watch party beginning at 7 p.m. at The Stage at The Corner.

"We're going to be together, we're going to share our joy and our hope for our future, and talk about the things that are important in maintaining our First amendment rights to a free press and having our voice," Palmer said.

The Kent County GOP did not return a request for comment on its voter mobilization efforts or any weekend events at the time of publishing.