Across the nation, including Maryland, protests are set to take place Saturday, April 5, against the Trump administration and the actions of the “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) headed by billionaire Elon Musk.
“Hands Off!” rallies are planned in all 50 states, mostly spearheaded by Indivisible, the grassroots organization whose goal is to empower citizens to protect democracy.
The “Hands Off” website lists at least 17 different rallies taking place across Maryland, from Baltimore City to Ocean City, from Hagerstown to Bel Air to Chevy Chase and other communities. Each protest is generally a coalition of advocacy groups, led by one who has taken the lead to set up the event for that location.
The protests are taking aim at policies enacted by Trump and Musk and backed by GOP members of Congress that have resulted in massive budget cuts and layoffs across federal agencies, and gutting of protections for science, farming, diplomacy, education, research, and more.
“This is a nationwide mobilization to stop the most brazen power grab in modern history . . . They’re taking everything they can get their hands on,” according to the Hands Off! website. “Our healthcare, our data, our jobs, our services . . . we’re taking to the streets nationwide to fight back with a clear message: Hands off!” The site lists the shuttering of Social Security offices, dismantling of Medicare, tax cuts for billionaires, and more as reasons for mobilizing.
One of the “Hands Off!” rallies will take place at Baltimore City Hall on Saturday from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Free State Coalition, a grassroots group of Marylanders dedicated to uplifting local communities and defending democracy, is the lead organizer of the “Hands Off!” rally together with the organization 50501.
Jessica Davis, one of the Free State organizers, emphasized the Baltimore City Hall rally is planned to be a family-friendly peaceful event with musical guests and a food drive benefiting The Food Project. There will be a kids’ craft area and resources from other local organizations. Accessibility accommodations include ADA seating and ASL interpreters.
She told Baltimore Fishbowl that around 1,100 people have signed up to attend, and they expect between that and around 1,600 people to show up. (Registration is not required.)
“The past few protests have been about what we were fighting against, and this rally or demonstration is really about what we’re fighting for,” Jessica Davis said. “So, we’re standing up for our families, our communities, our marginalized groups, and really trying to bring us together.”
She told Fishbowl there will be marshals there wearing yellow vests and a medical table (or possibly a tent, weather depending) if an attendee has any issues or needs. Marshals are in touch with one another throughout the entire event.
Some commonsense precautions Jessica Davis said they’re advising for attendees include turning off biometric recognition on their phones (facial, fingerprint); going with a friend or buddy; writing an emergency contact phone number on their arm or somehow making sure that contact can be reached.
Fishbowl also spoke to Ronnie T. Davis, chair of the Harford Democratic Club and organizer with Indivisible, who is leading the “Hands Off!” rally taking place in Bel Air in front of GOP Rep. Andy Harris’ office. That rally, coordinated with the groups Together We Will and the Harford County Democratic Central Committee, will take place between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m., along the sidewalks on both sides of Churchville Road.
Ronnie Davis said they would have an information station set up across from the fire department and a first aid tent on Main Street and Churchville Road. Block captains will be wearing bright pink shirts to help attendees should they need it, and they are urging people to stay out of the road.
Around 600 people have signed up to attend, and Ronnie Davis said she expects between that many and 1,000 people to show up.
They’re asking attendees to park at the garage on Hickory Avenue, and like Jessica Davis, recommended writing an emergency contact on their arm, disabling biometric access on their phone, and not engaging with counter protesters should they show up.
“There were some issues with people going down the street,” Ronnie Davis said, referring to counter protesters at the International Women’s Day rally that occurred in March. “Not us. [They’re asking rally-goers] to not engage people. It’s a peaceful rally to show support for change that we need in our country.”
“Bel Air Police knows that we are coming,” she said. “We’ve talked to them. They’re very gracious. I don’t think we’ll have a problem with them. But you never know when something happens, when something escalates, and that’s what we’re concerned about. We should just be like Designing Women and say, ‘Bless your heart,’ if we don’t agree with somebody.”
Ronnie Davis hopes that once the rally is over, people enjoy the town of Bel Air. She asks everyone to be respectful of the businesses during the rally and support them afterwards by checking out what the town has to offer.
YOU NEGLECTED TO MENTION THE hANDS oFF RALLY AT THE sOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION HEADQUARTERS ON SAT AT 10 AM.
Yes, there are, as I said, at least 17 listed on the Hands Off site! Martin O’Malley will be at the Social Security rally, which begins at 10 a.m. You can find a rally at this link, which is also linked in the article. https://www.mobilize.us/handsoff/
There was a great turnout at today’s protest in Bel Air (note: it’s two words). It was a totally upbeat, peaceful protest.
Thank you for your comment, Kent! The story has been updated with the correct Bel Air.
I look forward to seeing a follow up article from FishBowl on turnouts, speakers, etc. , as with the exception of a single article in the Banner about the SSA protest, that paper and The Sun (and The Post) are shamefully silent.
What was the turnout in Baltimore? In Annapolis? The major outlets seem to not recognize 5m+ turning out for this event as being a big deal. Shameful.