From a Refuse Fascism supporter in Detroit |

The Motor City Pride Fest goes over the weekend, with a parade on Sunday,
and tens of thousands come. I communicated with one of the local Refuse
Fascism people beforehand. She was going but wanted to celebrate, and
questioned whether we would be out of place. She was right that the first
day was mainly a party, a lot of people from the suburbs, and there was a
certain amount of “I’m good”. But I got out 450 of Coco Das’s piece “50
Years After Stonewall: We Will Not Go Back! We Will Not Accept a Fascist
America” to people in line to go through security, as well as all the
stickers I had on hand.

The Nazis threatened to disrupt the parade Sunday, but instead showed up
Saturday. There were about 12 of them, some armed with rifles and pistols
and shields, given a full protection and escort by dozens of Detroit Police
while they marched down the sidewalk alongside the plaza where the Pride
Fest was held. I didn’t hear this personally, but on one video some of them
were shouting “Donald Trump, Donald Trump.” They were confronted by
antifascist activists and people from the Pride Fest. People were furious
at the police, who escorted the Nazis through Fest-goers and then blockaded
the streets so protesters couldn’t follow.

Sunday two of us went to the parade. We got out tons of stickers and
flyers, and some signs. A funny thing happened which had a big impact. The
parade was organized into contingents with people on the sidelines cheering
for their favorites as each contingent step forward up the street in waves.

I got separated from the group I was walking with, and ended up walking
down the middle of the street alone with my “Trump/Pence Must Go!” sign raised high. When I entered the block a huge roar of cheers went up. I turned around to see
what contingent was behind me, but there was no one in either direction –
it was all for the slogan on the sign. People waved me over for hugs and
photos, to thank me, to get stickers and to sign up. It happened again the
next block. Then, after I hooked up with the other RF person at the end of
the parade route, the Planned Parenthood contingent came through with their
banner. Almost all of them were plastered with orange stickers. When they
saw us they gave a shout out and yelled “Trump Must Go!”