Photo by Sariah Cheadle People hold signs pointing out a number of concerns over the Trump administration during a event hosted by the Marshall Area Peace Seekers on Tuesday on Main Street in Marshall.

MARSHALL — Protesters unfazed by the rain gathered at Memorial park on the corner of Main Street and College Drive on Tuesday evening to give voice to different concerns they have with the current presidential administration.

The protest was hosted by the Marshall Area Peace Seekers (MAPS), who meet every second and fourth Tuesday of the month on this corner to protest various topics. This week, the focus was on tariffs — the harm they may do to farmers and about the health and security of our local community.

The event featured Paul Sobocinski, who has been farming since 1976. He has been a very active member of Minnesota Farmers Union and currently serves as the vice president of the Redwood County MFU, as well as a farm organizer for the Land Stewardship Project. He spoke to a crowd of around 20 people.

He introduced himself as someone who knows what it is to speak up for their community. “It takes people to speak up on issues that happen in their community and what they’re concerned about … it’s so important people come together if they don’t like what’s going on.,” he said.

Sobocinski is no stranger to this form of gathering, as he was part of a group back in 1985, who brought 17,000 farmers to the stage capital to protest a doubling of interest rates.

Now he feels that with the current tariff uncertainty his biggest concern is about broken relationships.

“With the tariffs, it’s about building relationships. And we’ve built relationships with many countries in terms of trade, it’s a relationship you have with people, once you break that relationship, there’s a problem,” he said.

Sobocinski also shared his concern for the need to get a farm bill done, one that “includes a commodity title, crop insurance, conservation, the environment, energy, young farmers, and nutrition.”

He expressed dismay that “House reconciliation bill cuts about $1 trillion in

spending reductions to Medicaid, food stamps and green energy programs, while that same bill increases the nation’s debt limit of another $4 trillion.”

He spoke of these cuts and how much they will affect our local community, citing an article shared in the Independent that a quarter of people in southwest Minnesota get their health care through Medicaid as well as his concern that the USDA canceled $18 million in local food purchases from Minnesota.

Sobocinski spoke of his own experience working to grow a more resilient food system and “the importance of some 250 plus small processors across our state” to create a more sustainable system, including the number of immigrants who support that system and make it possible.

He closed by sharing his thanks for all those who “came out to stand up in the rain because they care about our country’s direction and have the courage to stand up to the attacks on our democracy.” Lifting up JFK’s call to “ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country” as a continuing banner of support as we all move forward.

“Leadership should unite people. You people here today are showing that leadership,” Sobocinski said.

One of the protesters, Maureen Keimig, agreed and shared that “just knowing she’s standing with others who believe what you believe makes all the difference.”

She came to the protest so she can “do all I can, volunteer all I can. Going to events like this, just sending love out and hoping it bounces around to other places,” she said.