More than 6,000 people attended demonstrations in Whatcom and Skagit counties Saturday, April 5 to protest decisions made by the Trump administration that are fundamentally reshifting the federal government.
The “Hands Off!” protests were part of a national day of action: More than 1,110 rallies were held across the U.S. Saturday.
The “Hands Off!” nomenclature comes from demands of protesters for President Donald Trump and Elon Musk to keep their “hands off” Social Security, the federal workforce, immigration policies, the rights of transgender people and consumer protections, according to Axios.
Cascadia Daily News asked a series of similar questions to attendees in Bellingham and Mount Vernon to better understand how the Trump administration’s policy changes have directly impacted them.
Amy Miller, 63, Lynden, Elementary School intervention specialist
How have the actions taken by the Trump administration impacted you personally?
My son has Fragile X syndrome and his whole life relies on Medicaid. He’s on $4,000 worth of medication paid through Medicaid. He has a job coach who’s paid through Medicaid. He has a personal care person who comes and works with him while I’m at work. If the Medicaid domino falls, my job falls, his job falls, his medication falls, it will be a phenomenal impact on my life and the life of everybody in my family.
Zach is 41. He’s a part of his community — he works, he plays Special Olympics. Fifty years ago, before Medicaid and community-based services, the Zachs of the world were in institutions. That’s where they will go again if Medicaid is cut.
Marc Wetzel, 57, Fairhaven, pediatric nursing assistant
How have the actions taken by the Trump administration impacted you personally?
I have the honor and the privilege of vaccinating children; of making use of the immense amount of science, research and efforts of all the lives of all the scientists before us so that I can actually extend the lives of multiple children, the whole community. Having the CDC shut down, having the National Institute of Health shut down in the way that it has, even the Department of Education, has impacted my life.
Do you think these protests are different than the ones held in the past 10 years?
I have to admit, I’m a virgin protestor. This is my first. I’ve never been to one, I’ve only seen pictures of things that have taken place. I’m really impressed.
Jerome Edge, 40, Burlington, housing case manager
How have the actions taken by the Trump administration impacted you personally?
I had a friend of mine who’s a U.S. citizen get snatched by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement). He was pulled out of his car at gunpoint and had his face slammed on the pavement. He’s a U.S. citizen but he’s Latino. He wasn’t detained. When they realized they didn’t have anything on him, they let him go.
Do these protests feel different than the ones in the past 10 years?
I think there’s a lot more traction behind this. I mean, there’s probably anywhere between 1,500 to 2,000 people here right now. This isn’t your general small-town protest. There are a lot of people here. I think a lot of people feel similar in the same way.
Do you think the people in power are listening?
No, no I don’t. I think things need to get really bad to the point where people can’t ignore it and it can’t be business as usual.
Amelia Hunt, 32, Burlington, Western Washington University student
How have the actions taken by the Trump administration impacted you personally?
I am a Navy veteran and what Trump is doing to the VA (Veteran’s Administration) is really troubling to me. I support our veterans, they’ve worked for their benefits and they’re out there firing the people who take care of my fellow brother and sister veterans.
Do you think the people in power are listening?
I think so. I think they act like they’re not listening, but I think they can hear us. It’s going to get harder and harder for them not to hear us. Trump is out golfing right now and I can see through what he’s doing. He’s just acting like he doesn’t care and turning a blind eye. I think it’s impossible to do that at this point.
Michelle Gonzales Manjarrez, 25, Sedro Woolley, medical records technician
How have the actions taken by the Trump administration impacted you personally?
I am a Hispanic woman, both of my parents are immigrants, I am queer. My partner is in the military, we’re both Hispanics of first generation. It’s very conflicting to see the state of the world, the state of our country, seeing him serve our country when it does not stand for him or myself.
I feel attacked in more than a million ways. It’s really, really difficult to go on with normal life when it feels like more and more policies are being signed and people are losing their rights. It’s very depressing, but I stand with my sign of resisting. This will not stop us or dampen our spirits.
Do you feel like the people in power are listening?
I really hope so. That is my biggest hope that we can continue to fight and have people in office who do stand for us.
Gallery: ‘Hands Off!’ demonstrations draw big crowds
Annie Todd is CDN’s criminal justice/enterprise reporter; reach her at annietodd@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 130.
