(Additional photographs below.)
Close to 1,000 protestors waving colorful signs and banners joined an estimated 3.5 million (updated) across the country Saturday morning, filling the sidewalks on both sides of Main St. in Haverhill from city hall to the Ralph T. Basiliere Bridge as part of the national Hands Off Rally, organized by progressive groups across the country to protest what participants believe are unfair and dangerous policies advanced by the Trump administration.
Greater Haverhill Indivisible organized the local rally. Going into the event, Indivisible organizers Demet Haksever and Susan Kane expected 500 people. Twice that many turned out representing Haverhill and as well as its surrounding communities including Georgetown, Groveland, Methuen, Newbury and Methuen on a raw and rainy morning. The demonstration was peaceful but powerful, Kane and Haksever said.
Haksever observed, “The turnout was beyond our expectations. We were thrilled to see so many people in Haverhill and from the cities, some of the cities around, who advocate for unity, inclusivity and equal rights for all, and it served as a powerful demonstration of our shared values, our respect for human rights, diversity and love for one another including our immigrant neighbors and all these core values we have represented on our signs.”
She went on to add that she believes participants are deeply concerned about cuts to essential programs like Medicaid as well as staffing reductions at crucial federal agencies including the Social Security Administration, Department of Health and Human Services and Veterans Administration. The pair noted they believe the budget and staff cuts are disproportionately affecting low- and moderate-income individuals and threaten civil rights and due process. Signs held by the rally participants demanded that the Trump Administration keep their hands off the weather service, the education department, LBGQT rights, retirement funds, among many others valued federal programs. Other requested support for science, free speech, empathy and democracy itself.
Patricia Sorenson of Georgetown waved one of the more playful, yet serious signs. Hers featured “Hand off Penguins,” a reference, she explained, to the tariffs the Trump administration has enacted on tiny islands in Antarctica inhabited only by penguins.
“It makes no sense to me so, yes, that’s why I showed up for the protest today. There are a number of things but basically democracy and free speech and not cutting jobs randomly. Just, just do the things that you campaigned on, okay, Mr. Trump. You said you were going to lower prices, you said you were going to make America great again. I don’t think America was that bad and I think it’s not getter greater. It’s getting worse.”
Cheryl Messenger and her husband, Marvin, of Groveland took up a position on Main Street outside Market Basket with a sign asking the federal government to stop threatening retirees and their benefits. “I believe we are headed for fascism in a big way,” she said, noting that the protest was one way of showing the depth of feelings and fears many American have towards the young administration and what they believe are policies that damage and undermine democracy. “We heard from friends in Germany who have told us this scenario is very familiar to them and what happened when the Nazi’s seized power.”
State Rep. Andy X. Vargas posted on social media, “So proud of Haverhill. Nothing about what is occurring under this administration is normal. From eroding checks and balances, picking off students exercising free speech, separating families, ignoring the judiciary, messing Medicare/Medicaid and Social Security, elevating unqualified leaders to cabinet positions and imposing tariffs that will raise prices and wreak havoc on working people. None of it is normal or justified.”
The Haverhill Democratic City Committee was among several groups that took part. William D. Cox Jr., former Haverhill city solicitor and chair of the Haverhill Democratic City Committee told WHAV, “We are grateful to be part of this tremendous grassroots campaign by folks from all cross sections of our community to fight back against the insanity of this administration.”
Kane and Haksever said they expect their group will organize more rallies and street demonstrations in the coming weeks if the Trump administration does not reverse course. Kane explained, “It was a tremendous outpouring of voices in protest of the administration’s policies and shared sense of purpose. We are all in this together and I think everybody felt that, everybody was expressing that.”
Haverhill Democratic City Committee members, from left, Joseph Leblanc, male vice president, and William D. Cox Jr., chair and former Haverhill city solicitor, at White’s Corner in downtown Haverhill. (Courtesy photograph.)
Hands Off rallyers included Marvin and Cheryl Messenger at left. (WHAV News photograph.)
A group of Hands Off rallyers along Main Street in Haverhill who turned out for the national demonstration. (WHAV News photograph.)