© 2024 MICHIGAN PUBLIC
91.7 Ann Arbor/Detroit 104.1 Grand Rapids 91.3 Port Huron 89.7 Lansing 91.1 Flint
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Autoworkers gather to oppose Trump ahead of rally

Cheyna Roth
/
MPRN

Michigan auto workers and labor leaders gathered Friday morning to oppose Republican nominee Donald Trump’s visit to Dimondale, Michigan later that day. The group gathered with a very clear message: Donald Trump would a “disaster” for Michigan.

Former U.S. Rep. Mark Schauer and several members of the United Auto Workers attacked Trump’s statements about moving car production outside of Michigan and his failure to release his tax returns. They said Trump is not on the side of the American workers.

But they also touched on points Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton has been hitting for months. With vendors setting up Trump gear nearby, President of the UAW Local 652 Mike Green said, “He’s talking about products? Why don’t you just look right over here to these products, they got Trump on it. All the boxes say ‘made in China.’ What kind of message is that sending here?”

Credit Courtesy photo
Boxes of Trump merchandise at the site of today's rally are labeled “made in China.”

Lansing autoworker Anita Dawson praised President Obama for turning around the economy, but cautioned that progress could be reversed.

“Now we have a choice,” she said. “Do we continue our recovery? Or do we go back to the same economic policies that cost so many Michiganders their jobs during the recession?”

Schauer also took shots at Trump. He accused Trump of “disrespecting American workers,” and attacked Trump policies he said would cost auto workers jobs.

“Donald Trump would be a disaster for Michigan,” he said. “A disaster for workers. A disaster for hard working families and a disaster for Michigan’s economy.”

Before becoming the newest Capitol reporter for the Michigan Public Radio Network, Cheyna Roth was an attorney. She spent her days fighting it out in court as an assistant prosecuting attorney for Ionia County. Eventually, Cheyna took her investigative and interview skills and moved on to journalism. She got her masters at Michigan State University and was a documentary filmmaker, podcaster, and freelance writer before finding her home with NPR. Very soon after joining MPRN, Cheyna started covering the 2016 presidential election, chasing after Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, and all their surrogates as they duked it out for Michigan. Cheyna also focuses on the Legislature and criminal justice issues for MPRN. Cheyna is obsessively curious, a passionate storyteller, and an occasional backpacker. Follow her on Twitter at @Cheyna_R
Related Content