In January 2017, amid nationwide response to the inauguration of President Donald Trump, many major cities and even smaller towns saw resistance gatherings in the form of Women’s Marches, focusing on issues of sexism at a national level. While most chose to align themselves with the national Women’s March organization, Ypsilanti, as it often does, did things a little differently.

On Friday and Saturday, January 20th and 21st 2017, an organization known as LRAY, or Love Resilience Action Ypsilanti, held a two day event which focused on issues of community building and resistance, as well as issues of sexism, racism, classism, and homophobia. They also held a march in January 2018, with a chief focus on issues of gentrification in the local community.