Trump’s latest policies under fire anew in MLK Day protest

About 15 members of the group Voices for Freedom held a peaceful protest at the Oleai intersection on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, criticizing policies and actions of U.S. President Donald Trump that they said undermine civil rights, constitutional protections, and democratic institutions.

Organizer Clairalynn Baucom said the protest was motivated by what she described as documented civil rights abuses and aggressive law enforcement actions on the U.S. mainland, particularly involving warrantless searches and detentions.

“Donald Trump thinks that the point of the government and the point of police is to enforce his will, to force people to do what he wants them to do. But the framers of our Constitution created a government with the idea that the government is the servant of the people, not their master,” she said.

She warned that allowing such practices elsewhere creates a precedent that could affect the Northern Mariana Islands, stressing that the government must remain accountable to the people and operate within the limits of the Constitution and Bill of Rights.

“A violation of freedoms anywhere is a threat to your freedom here. So, whatever they get away with there, if you are okay with that, then you're giving the government permission to do that here. So, don't think that just because we're far away that we're immune to this,” said Baucom.

Jeff Race said the protest was part of a continuing effort to alert the public to what he described as an escalation of constitutional violations and political polarization under the Trump administration.

“He wants to have people forget about the Epstein files. He wants to be able to cancel elections. He wants to be able to rid America of his enemies. And, you know, there's no low point that he's not willing to go to, to do that. So, the best way for him to accomplish these aims is to start a civil war, and then he can be the president for the rest of his life until he dies,” he said.

He warned that fear and inaction could allow further erosion of democratic norms and urged greater public participation in opposing what he called authoritarian tendencies.

Race also said Trump appears to be dead-set in making the entirety of North America his own empire.

“I think it's pretty clear that Putin's been in his ear and says, ‘Look, you let us have Europe, and China can have Asia, and you can have the Americas.’ He just sent out a tweet saying that he is the president of Venezuela. Now he's the acting president of Venezuela. He wants to take Greenland. He wants to take Canada. He wants to take Cuba. He wants to bomb Mexico. He wants to be the emperor of the Americas. He's insane. He's gone insane,” he said.

Tom Farmer said holding the protest on MLK Day was intentional, noting that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. symbolized the role of protest in defending civil rights.

“I look at the people who support what he who may not be named wants to do, and I'm ashamed of them. What in the world happened to America? I can't believe it. It's unconscionable,” he said.

Farmer criticized U.S. immigration policies and foreign policy rhetoric, saying they run counter to constitutional values and long-standing American principles.

“I served in the Air Force for 10 years, and so I'm a veteran. I know about the oath that the soldiers take, about taking care of enemies, foreign and domestic, and I've never been more ashamed to call myself an American than I am right now.”

Farmer also warned CNMI residents not to assume distance from Washington, D.C., provides immunity from federal actions.

Ambrose Bennett said he participated to help preserve both Dr. King’s dream and what he described as the American dream, which he believes are under threat. He expressed concern that the country is moving backward toward racial and economic inequality, while wealth and power become increasingly concentrated.

“Dr. King's dream has been lost by many. And that's why I'm here today. If we can work on those two dreams of achieving the dream of Dr. King and the American dream, everything will be a lot better. As we know, Trump is destroying it,” he said.

Dr. Roxanne Richter cited reported deaths and detentions in immigration custody, saying current policies have created fear among both citizens and non-citizens.

“We have had so far 31 people killed, and they died in ICE custody. We've had 170 U.S. citizens detained by ICE. What is going on in our country is objectively just insane. This is not a democracy,” she said.

She said residents of the CNMI should view the protest as an act of solidarity with communities on the U.S. mainland and a call to defend democratic representation and civil liberties.

Baucom and company said the demonstration was intended to raise awareness, encourage civic engagement, and reaffirm the legacy of nonviolent protest associated with Dr. King. The protest concluded peacefully without incident.