ST. PETER — Patricia Kuehl has called the White House’s phone number so many times she knows it by heart.
“I call everyday and ask, ‘What are you doing to enforce the rule of law?’ I want to know,” she said Thursday while making a sign for the May Day protest in St. Peter. “I call Finstad’s office. I call Klobuchar’s office. I call as many congressmen, as many senators, representatives as I can to let them know that this is not ok.”
Organized locally by Indivisible St. Peter/Greater Mankato, the area’s May Day protest was again one of hundreds to take place nationwide.
Thursday’s called to celebrate worker and immigrant rights and demand better treatment of those groups under the Trump administration.
But the call to action demonstrated similar themes to other events that Indivisible has recently organized — the group also held a protest for the national “Hands Off!” day in April.
Naomi Olson, of Mankato, was one returning face this week.
“I have been politically active most of my life,” she said. “Everybody that feels the way I do needs to stand up and let our senators and the House of Representatives know how we feel about it. If we get more and more people, we’ll eventually tip the scales. It’s up to us.”
Aisho Abdi, of St. Peter, has also been to similar events.
“I love volunteering, and I love doing whatever makes my community a better place,” she said. “I just love my community.”
A sizable crowd turned up to hold signs along Minnesota Square Park and Minnesota Avenue despite the clouds and rain that threatened the evening.
Local musicians Ron Arsenault and Kit Kildahl performed for early attendees prior to the main event as some made signs, and organizers also collected items for the St. Peter Food Shelf.
Indivisible volunteer Ashley Siehler said the group is planning as many demonstrations as it takes to get their voices heard and to see change.
“We are concerned about what is happening in the current administration,” she said, “and if you are, too, you’re not alone.”
Siehler said the next national protest is planned for Flag Day in June, though Indivisible hasn’t yet organized what they are doing.