Over 35 members of Indivisible gathered with signs calling out everything from the action of the Department of Government Efficiency (DODGE) and the firing of federal employees to rising tariffs and the treatment towards Ukraine.

Indivisible is a grassroots movement with chapters across the state, including Mankato and St. Peter. Three weeks ago, New Ulm resident Garrett Ebling helped found the New Ulm chapter. He said the organization is committed to protecting the Constitution and the rights of others and raising awareness about current issues.

“The goal is to raise awareness,” Ebling said. “We are in a very red community, but we want to show people it’s a little more purple.”

Ebling believed there was more common ground in New Ulm than many realized and hoped the demonstration would show that to the public.

John Arnoldy holds up a sign condemning the tariffs enacted by the Trump administration during Saturday’s demonstration on Saturday. Arnoldy said the weather Saturday was nothing compared to the blizzard conditions he experienced during the Standing Rock protests.

“We all want a balanced budget, but don’t want to see programs that people depend on get cut,” he said.

Ebling said the recent slashing of government jobs and programs had brought many people out to demonstrate.

“We are on the side of the small farmers, health care and senior citizens,” he said. “We want to protect the welfare of others. The effects of programs cut will be felt downstream.”

He described the widespread cutting of federal programs and personnel in the name of government efficiency as “cutting off the nose to spite the face.”

At the demonstration, John Arnoldy carried a two-sided sign. One side said “Tariffs Hurt Farmers,” and the other side was critical of DOGE and Elon Musk’s involvement with it.

Over 35 people attended New Ulm Individisble’s demonstration Saturday. The group protested against policies enacted by the Trump administration.

“Musk is an unelected billionaire working without an outside audit,” Arnoldy said. “That is wrong.”

Arnoldy was no stranger to demonstrations. He protested at Standing Rock for six weeks during blizzard conditions. He said Saturday’s windy weather was nothing compared to that.

Eric Holland held a sign that simply read: “Resist.”

“What’s going on in this country is terrible,” he said. “Cutting workers from the Social Security, a program that is already overburdened will just further hurt senior citizens.”

He was also upset with Trump’s turn against Ukraine.

“You don’t sell out an ally like Ukraine overnight,” Holland said.

Becky Gieger also had several reasons for attending the demonstration.

“I am seriously afraid of what could happen in this country,” she said. “Rights are being stripped away and federal funding is being slashed.”

Pat Booker said her main reason for attending Saturday’s demonstration was the high number of federal employee positions being cut.

“There is no end in sight to this,” she said. “There are so many people’s lives being turned upside down by this.”

Ebling said he was impressed with the turnout for the demonstration, considering the cold weather. He took it as a sign that people wanted to see a change.