Thousands flooded the Capitol Square this past weekend for a nationally organized “Hands Off!” protest over the current presidential administration.
The effort was organized by grassroots groups 50501, an organization that organizes 50 protests in 50 states to uphold the Constitution and end executive overreach, and Indivisible, whose mission is to elect progressive leaders. Protests occurred all over the country on Saturday, including Madison, with over 1,400 organized at state capitols, federal buildings, congressional offices, Social Security headquarters, parks and city halls.
Protesters could be seen all over Madison as they made their way to the state capitol. A banner hung on the pedestrian bridge overlooking the freeway near Thompson Drive that read “Save Our Democracy” and people with signs in hand on the East Washington Bus Rapid Transit route. Thousands flocked to the protest in front of the Forward Statue with a line down State Street to nearly the Orpheum Theater as more marched around the area.
The protest marks the largest to date over the current Trump Administration. Organizers had three demands: “an end to billionaire takeover and rampant corruption of the Trump administration; an end to slashing federal funds for Medicaid, Social Security, and other programs working people rely on; and an end to the attacks on immigrants, trans people and other communities.”
While the general point of the protest was to rally against the Trump Administration, protesters had their own individual gripes. Noah Stengl, a lecturer at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, found increased worry for the right to protest for students.
“I don’t usually do this sort of thing, but it felt important enough, and I’m glad other people feel the same way,” Stengl said. “People are disappearing for protesting, especially students. I’m highly concerned that — I mean ICE is already here — but I’m concerned that their presence is going to increase some of our students being targeted.”
Another protestor, who didn’t wish to share her name, has a blanket of concerns in line with the overall message of the national protests. She hopes to be able to do whatever she can to help and make her voice heard, but urges people to “do something positive and concentrate on the good that can be done.”
Marion Morgan focused on civil rights and body autonomy. As an elderly Black woman, she said it’s hard to figure out what to do, but at least protesting is a meaningful action she can take.
“For a long time people have been silent, even with family about political issues because for so many families that are divided on the political spectrum, they felt that it wasn’t safe,” Morgan said. “Now to hear family and friends who have been in the Trump camp acknowledge that, ‘Oh, wait a second. I didn’t think he was going to affect me.’ it’s an opportunity to talk to them and move them to action as well.”
The protest moved into a march down State Street and back around to the capitol as the crowd progressively dispersed.
