Borderline protest: Canadians and Americans to rally together against Trump rhetoric

A protest being planned on both sides of the Detroit River this weekend. CTV Windsor’s Travis Fortnum has more.

It’s not every day that protesters gather on both sides of an international border at the same time — but this Saturday, that’s exactly what will happen in Windsor and Detroit.

A cross-border protest against U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade policies and political rhetoric is set to take place simultaneously in both cities on March 22 at 1 p.m.

Demonstrators in Windsor will gather beneath the Canadian flag at the foot of Ouellette Avenue, while their American counterparts will assemble in Hart Plaza.

The protest is being organized by Audrey Bourriaud of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

Originally from France, Bourriaud moved to the United States in 2011 and has developed close ties to Canada, highlighting the deep connections between the two nations.

“We thought that coming together was a strong message to send, to show the White House that the citizens, on both sides — Canadian and American — we respect each other,” said Bourriaud.

“We love each other and we really want to go back to what things used to be: the friendship, good relationship, a strong economic partnership.”

The demonstration comes in response to Trump’s tariffs against Canada and his recent controversial remarks about making the country part of the U.S.

Bourriaud believes the protest is an opportunity to demonstrate the solidarity that exists between the two nations, despite tensions at the political level.

“I think that this area specifically — Detroit, Windsor — is really the epitome of the relationship between Canada and the U.S.,” she said.

“We are in this together.”

Bourriaud says the event is part of a broader wave of activism that has emerged in response to Trump’s policies.

“Right now, in the U.S., people are worried,” she explained.

“People are mad. People are scared. And we can see that with the enormous activism that is taking place.

“People are really coming together,” said Bourriaud.

The protest also touches on concerns over political influence from wealthy elites, a sentiment echoed in other demonstrations, such as the ‘Tesla Takedown’ movement that has gained traction in Canada.

Some protesters have boycotted Tesla in opposition to its CEO, Elon Musk, citing his close ties to Trump.

“What I really see is that it’s us, the people, against them,” Bourriaud said.

University of Manitoba sociology professor Mark Hudson, who has studied the ‘Tesla Takedown’ protests, sees a wider movement forming against the political influence of the ultra-wealthy.

“There’s also a broader, deeper undercurrent around this, which is about the question of the influence of the super-rich in politics and democratic processes,” Hudson said.

While Tesla owners have found themselves caught in this larger debate, the Windsor-Detroit protest remains focused on international unity.

“We want to send a very clear message, that we are completely connected, tied together and united,” Bourriaud said.

“It’s not one country, not one people against President Trump — it’s Canada and the U.S. together.”

Organizers hope the protest will serve as a powerful display of solidarity between Canadians and Americans during a politically charged time.