On March 16, a demonstration took place at Effigy Mounds National Monument (EMNM) near Marquette, Iowa, directly across the Mississippi River from Prairie Du Chien. Approximately 55 people peacefully assembled to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

These grievances include concerns about current federal policies that lay off workers, reduced  funding for environmental protections, and violations of religious rights and practices.

One protestor was Brian Gibbs, who was fired on February 24, in spite of having earned exceptional evaluations as a park ranger, who educated youth and adults. Gibbs spoke of the national and international audience that is attracted to Effigy Mounds because of its unique cultural significance.

Nineteen Indigenous Nations and Tribes built the burial mounds and practice religious rites at the monument, which contains more than two hundred American Indian burial sites shaped as bear and eagle mounds.

“This is sacred space,” Gibbs said.

This message was repeated on some of the many signs: ‘Effigy Mounds are Sacred Ground,’  ‘Don’t Fire Civil Servants! Tax Billionaires!’ ‘Hire Rangers, Fire Musk,’ and ‘Save Our Park!’

Scott Boylan organized the demonstration. He is a sixth grade teacher, who also teaches rangers working at EMNM. He listed the federal organizations being short-funded and decimated: the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), National Education Association (NEA), and other libraries and parks.

Under condition of anonymity, many demonstrators expressed concerns, but must keep silent to protect their jobs.

Every Sunday in the future, there will be a meeting and demonstration from 10 a.m. to noon at Effigy Mounds National Monument.

A science teacher will offer training to first responders from 10:30 to 11 a.m.  This will include the history of non-violent civil disobedience training in the tradition of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr.