Jeanne Butterfield stands up for her beliefs

Kyle Kotecki, kkotecki@pioneergroup.com

Jeanne Butterfield holds a sign outside of the Manistee Post Office Saturday during a rally she organized as "an expression of concern in support" of the U.S. Postal Service.

Jeanne Butterfield holds a sign outside of the Manistee Post Office Saturday during a rally she organized as "an expression of concern in support" of the U.S. Postal Service.

Photo: Kyle Kotecki/News Advocate

Jeanne Butterfield holds a sign outside of the Manistee Post Office Saturday during a rally she organized as "an expression of concern in support" of the U.S. Postal Service.

Jeanne Butterfield holds a sign outside of the Manistee Post Office Saturday during a rally she organized as "an expression of concern in support" of the U.S. Postal Service.

Meet the retired lawyer who organized the rally in support of the USPS

Manistee's Jeanne Butterfield is not one to sit idly by in the face of what she sees as malfeasance. Butterfield prefers a more proactive approach.

When troubled by changes in the U.S. Postal Service, Butterfield took action, organizing a rally held outside of the Manistee Post Office Saturday morning as "an expression of concern in support" of the U.S. Postal Service.

"We've seen several disturbing actions since (Louis) DeJoy was appointed Postmaster General: cuts in overtime, slowing down of service, dismantling of sorting machines and removal of actual mailboxes from some city streets around the country," Butterfield said. "That comes on the heels of statements by some of our political poobahs that the post office should be a profit-making venture. We're here to say it's not it's an essential service.

"It's critical to our small towns, and rural communities need it not only for personal mail but for prescription medicines, benefits checks," she continued. "And then looking ahead, during a pandemic especially, we need a reliable mail service to get our votes mailed in so we don't have to stand in line and expose ourselves on Election Day."

Butterfield has dedicated her life to making a difference, working as an immigration lawyer and continuing to stand up for various causes in her retirement.

"I was an immigration lawyer and I did national immigration policy work, mostly in Washington D.C.," she said. "I'm the former executive director of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. I've always been active on issues of concern to our communities."

Butterfield, along with husband Al Frye, is a member of the We the People Action Network of Northwestern Michigan, which is a local, non-partisan, grassroots network dedicated to education, advocacy and action around issues of concern to the local community.

"Al Frye is my husband and one of the co-organizers (of the rally)," she said. "We have had this little network called We the People Action Network of Northwestern Michigan. It's done a number of events over the years here and that was some of the impetus behind this."

Butterfield settled in Manistee after retirement and, not content to spend her days relaxing, continued advocating for worthy causes.

"I'm a born and raised Michigander," she said. "I came back to Manistee in my retirement and I've been active in the community here ever since."

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Meet the retired lawyer who organized the rally in support of the USPS - Manistee News Advocate