An estimated 2,500 people turned out to loudly protest convicted felon, sexual abuser and President Donald Trump and his co-president Elon Musk and their erratic governing style, economy-destroying tariffs, alienating of America’s allies, crony capitalism, ignoring people’s rights to due process, rolling back of civil and human rights, illegal dismantling of federal agencies and worse, at one of the biggest protests ever in town. The demonstration was one of about 1,400 similar protests taking place across the nation on April 5 as Americans, increasingly worried about Trump pushing the country into authoritarianism, rise in solidarity against Trump and Trumpism.
The raucous, nonviolent crowd consisted of people of all ages, including kids and dogs. About 99% of passing cars that exhibited an opinion upon seeing the demonstration honked and waved in approval, threw thumbs ups, flashed peace signs or the Hawaiian hand sign known as the “shaka,” which represents friendship, understanding an positivity.
Here are estimates of the attendance numbers at April 5 Hands Off! events in other western slope towns:
Here are photos from the day in Grand Junction:
WOW! The Montrose “hands off” rally was featured on the Rachel Maddow Show tonight.
You’ll have to make sure Grand Junction makes the show next time, Anne.
Badhat, you are trying to be clever. It never works for me in this group. I can save you an email and explain why it needs to start now. This is not a symptom of TDS, which fades away over time, but rather anger and fear of some people regarding all of our future. I can relate to that even if I don’t agree with some of the posters. That sentiment will grow over time.
Try to expand your knowledge sources regarding history. The Summer of Love was not the same as the 1967 race riots. Equally, the recent Hands off and Resist protests were not similar in purpose, delivery, or outcome.
Badhat, Trump’s policies will likely hurt every single Mesa County resident. What will it take to get your vote? The reelection-motivated Republican House, including Gardner, needs to hear from you so they can be more confident in breaking rank right now. Checking Trump now is an act of courage, regardless of how they voted last year, regardless of what Biden did, and regardless of whether the CD challenger to Gardner seems less preferable to yourself. Man-up, unless you are cis female, with no sleight intended. Are you?
I was talking about the 2020 george Floyd riots, summer of love.
I don’t know who Gardner is.
The current organizers have been at this since 2016. The real and only reason is that they hate Trump. As I’ve said, they’ve been at this since the gold escalator and I never actually understood it until I realized there are very powerful and corrupt people in charge of the movement. Look up Norm Eisen and Marc Elias. They started designing this new push as soon as they realized Trump was going to win, despite all their efforts to prevent it, throughout his first term and the four years following.
As I’ve said, I’m not all-in with everything Trump does (particularly his insulting rhetoric) but I really like at least two things…closing the border and downsizing the federal government. It will be fascinating to see if he can prevail against the lawfare he is going to be up against. Eisen and Elias are brilliant lawyers.
I think it’s relatively easy to get disgruntled Democrats to show up and make signs. It’s in their DNA to despise Trump. As I said, the question is the sustainability and whether peace can be maintained.
For me…I like Trump because the right people hate him.
PS. John, what Trump policies are likely to hurt Mesa County?
From what I’ve read here there’s a lot of generated fear about Medicare and Social Security. Those are red herrings meant to enrage. Currently what is happening is the uncovering of billions in waste and fraud. I’m all for that and any rational person should be as well.
It’s too easy to highlight one person who has lost his federal job and blame Elon Musk. Dumb people fall for that.
I have to admit that this gathering was very impressive. Neighbors coming together to speak their truth!
It puts me in mind of the “Summer of Love” where everywhere around the country people came together to fight racism, facism and Donald Trump.
It was all very inspirational if you can overlook the billions of dollars of property damage, boarded up businesses, twenty dead and thousands injured.
I’m trying to come up with a good name for this new effort…how about “The Summer of Lots of Older White People Standing Around with Anti-Trump, Anti-Elon, Anti-Facism, Anti-Nazi Signs”
I know the name is unwieldy, but some marketing genius could probably tighten it up.
I’m thinking of emailing the organizers to find out why they’re starting so soon. It’s almost two years from the nearest election and three years before it’s time to gear up for the presidential election.
I’m pretty sure they’ll say they have to keep the base energized with outrage. But I’m worried about the base getting bored. And when the base gets bored, some of them may resort to bigger “organized actions”…like setting TESLA dealerships on fire.
But why worry? I just hope they know how to keep their troops in line while they stand on street corners waiting for all their wishes to come true.