By Bethany Davis
Saturday, April 5, thousands of West Michigan activists gathered at Rosa Parks Circle in downtown Grand Rapids to participate in the nationwide HandsOff! protests. Demonstrators had no limit of advocacies, all united by their concerns of the Trump administration and Elon Musk’s government takeover.
The HandsOff! protest in Grand Rapids was one of 50 taking place across Michigan, in addition to over 1,300 other cities that spanned across all 50 states. This demonstration brought together a wide spectrum of people from all walks of life who each had a reason to rally. Protesters showed up fighting for matters like reproductive and LGBTQ+ rights, immigration reform, education access, climate change and global affairs.
The event’s local organizer, Becky Palmer, said she believes these protests are in response to President Donald Trump’s second term and Musk’s influence. “When was the last time you felt like billionaires were really working for you?” Palmer said in an interview with MLive. “That’s not how they got there.”
The crowd was high-spirited and overflowing with solidarity. Many times, attendees broke out into unanimous chants such as, “Stand up, fight back,” “This is what democracy looks like,” and “Donald Trump has got to go!” Activists held their signs high, demanding “hands off” public education, healthcare, social security, D.E.I. and more.
Twenty-one-year-old Mia and 18-year-old August Longworth, sisters from Sparta, showed up for queer and womens’ rights.
“Queer people have always existed. They always will exist whether you want them to or not,” Mia said.
Gesturing to their younger sister standing with them, Evelyn Longsworth, August added, “She shouldn’t have to be here this young, worrying about everything in this world. She should worry about doing her homework and playing soccer.” Evelyn raised her sign high above her head reading, “save our education!” and had just as much courage as everyone else.
HandsOff! brought together families of all ages downtown. Loretta Castaneda, 62, showed up with her 17-year-old granddaughter, Aanzhenii Dandridge, from East Kentwood.
“I’m fighting for the future, my future. I’m Native American, so we always look seven generations ahead,” Castaneda said. “I’m looking for my granddaughter to have a future.”
Castaneda also held a sign reading “Hands off my social security.” She said, while pointing at her poster, “I paid since I was 15 years old into this and worked hard…I just started receiving Social Security a few months back. Don’t take it away from me.”
Alongside her grandmother, Dandridge put her own spin on Trump’s MAGA slogan, holding a sign reading: “Morons Are Governing America.” She said, “I hate seeing this slogan anywhere, like those Trump hats,” Dandridge said. “It’s evil. Plain evil.” Her’s was one of many signs that took direct aim at Trump’s rhetoric.
This protest wasn’t just displays of anger, but a gathering of generations, voices and lived experiences. Attendees were proudly calling for a more inclusive and secure future. Each individual had a unique reason for showing up.
Andrea Sisson, an election worker from Grand Rapids, came to fight for hands off of public libraries. “Witnessing the chaos that is yet being wrought against our country has reinvigorated my passion for change,” she said.
In a similar fashion, Susan Stapleten, 73, of Grand Rapids, made her own comment, “I’ve never seen anything like this ever.”
When asked about any special cause she came out for, she said, “For me, it’s all of them. But for some people, it’s something else. Everybody has their thing, but it’s the massiveness of all of it.”
Outside of the main circle, people also lined up along the road, waving their signs as cars passed by, some honking their horns and giving thumbs-ups. An older gentleman in the sidewalk crowd made some extra noise as he played a beat on an empty orange bucket painted with Trump’s face.
The HandsOff! protest ended around 2 p.m. with everyone going on a march around the block surrounding Rosa Parks Circle. As the crowd moved through the downtown streets, chants and cheers grew louder with every step. After the march people slowly dispersed, but many left with renewed feelings of resilience and hope.
