Photo by Deb Gau Area residents held signs speaking out on a number of issues during a community rally Tuesday evening in Marshall. A group of roughly 40 people gathered because of concerns over the Trump administration’s actions, and the state of American democracy.

MARSHALL — Area residents said there were a lot of reasons why they had gathered at the corner of Main Street and College Drive on Tuesday evening.

The signs they were holding commented on cuts to government services and foreign aid, and voiced support for immigrants and the nation of Ukraine.

The common thread was that they were speaking out against actions taken by the Trump administration.

“It’s just very scary,” said Beth Collins, a Cottonwood resident who had joined the group of roughly 40 people holding signs near Marshall’s Memorial Park.

Collins and Barb Springer, another protester, said they felt that needed government services, and American democracy, were at risk.

Tuesday’s community rally was organized by residents including members of the Marshall Area Peace Seekers.

“It formed because Donald (Trump) and (Elon) Musk are dismantling public services and the Constitution,” said Darwin Dyce. “There’s so many things that are being picked apart.”

Springer said some of the things she was worried about included how LGBTQ people were being treated, and how the economy and possible cuts to Social Security would affect the public.

“Just, security for normal people who are living paycheck to paycheck,” she said.

As a retired employee of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Collins said she was concerned for the future of people currently working for the agency. Funding freezes to conservation programs like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) could also hurt farmers, she said.

Under programs like EQIP, farmers do work to implement conservation practices, and get assistance for it. With funding frozen, it could lead to situations where

“They’ve already done it, and they’re got getting paid,” Collins said.

Collins said the crowd at Tuesday’s rally was larger than she had seen at other events in the past.

“I think it says something about the state of the government right now,” she said.

Springer said she also hoped that seeing the community rally would help other people who had concerns.

“It will show people they’re not alone,” she said.