Erie Rallies for Hands Off! National Day of Action

Julia Carden

More than 1,000 Erieites exercised their right to peacefully protest the current administration's policies as part of the national Hands Off! day of protest. Reporter Julia Carden was present and spoke to some of the constituents about their reasons for participating in the protest.

The stage in Perry Square has long echoed with the voices of change—hosting Erie Pridefest, Trans Day of Visibility, Black Lives Matter, The Women's March, and more demonstrations. On Saturday, April 5, the park once again became a gathering ground for justice, as over 1,000 joined the "Hands Off!" National Day of Action. 

With a running list of concerns, demonstrators called on President Donald Trump and Elon Musk to take their hands off civil rights, education, freedom, healthcare, and Social Security. The message was clear: These issues are intertwined, and the fight for one is a fight for all.

The 50501 Movement reported over 3 million attendees nationwide. In Erie, the event was organized through a coalition of local advocacy groups, including Benedictines for Peace (BFP), French Creek Indivisible, and 50501 Erie. Local leaders took the stage to speak, including Jude Dauson, Shari Gross, Lindsey Helfrey Scott, Chris Magoc, Anne McCartney, Mora Rangel, Carlos Rangel, Matthew Trott, and John Vanco.

As advocates delivered their remarks, many gathered at the stage, chanting "Hands off!" and "Elon Musk Has Got to Go!" Others marched along the perimeter of Perry Square on State Street, carrying signs with messages like "HONK IF YOU SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION."

Though speakers expressed frustration, the atmosphere remained upbeat, enhanced by live music from Dan Zischkau. The crowd, predominantly older participants, filled the lawn in front of Perry Square Stage, singing along and dancing as Zischkau performed the "If I Had A Dollar," or "The Hammer Song," by Pete Seeger and Lee Hays. The protest remained peaceful, with a lack of police presence. 

For Edinboro resident Nadine Buckley, "Hands Off!" marked her first protest. "I'm pleasantly surprised to see so many older people here — this isn't their first protest," Buckley said. "I expected to see more young people, but the turnout really shows how many different groups of people are frustrated. I feel very encouraged and motivated being here today."

Meadville resident Zoey Hummer learned of the protest just two days in advance and quickly set to work on her sign—an inverted American flag marked with a neon pink triangle spray-painted upside down. The symbol, once used by Nazi Germany during the Holocaust to identify gay, disabled, and other marginalized victims, has since been reclaimed as an emblem of LGBTQIA+ resistance.

"I wish I had more time to work on it, but I kind of like how messy it turned out," she said while holding the flag steady above the crowd. "I chose it because it's not just a symbol of LGBTQIA+ resistance, it makes people who recognize it uncomfortable. And I want them to be uncomfortable. I want people to confront the end result of these policies and the very real horrors they're leading to."

"If we don't speak up, who will?" For Hummer, supporting the LGBTQIA+ community was a primary motivation for attending, alongside her concerns about other pressing issues.

Lindsey Helfrey Scott, the chair of the Crawford County Democrats, is a disabled veteran and passionate advocate. She criticized the Trump Administration and Elon Musk, specifically addressing federal cuts to the Veterans Affairs program and the harmful impact those cuts have on veterans.

"They're systematically destroying, eroding, defunding, and denying departments, traditions, programs, and our rights. And because of that, they've got an enemy in Pennsylvania," Helfrey declared into the mic, as the crowd roared in approval.

Political rallies and community events often see low turnout following elections, said Helfrey, who chairs the Crawford County Democratic Committee and the Rural Caucus of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party. She notes that rural residents typically have to travel to larger cities to attend protests — a barrier for many. But on Saturday, a strong local presence emerged, particularly from Crawford County, just south of Erie. 

"The numbers exploded. It was one of the first times I've seen people just organize where they were," Helfrey said. "I love seeing these hyper-local protests take shape. Not only did they happen, but they were big and well attended."

Even as afternoon showers swept through downtown, demonstrators remained in the park, undeterred by the rain. Organizers hope the momentum not only continues but builds in the months ahead.

 "We have to keep this energy going. Everyone who shows up needs to show out at the polls, too," Helfrey said. She emphasized the importance of sustained community engagement, especially as the Trump Administration's policies and executive orders begin to take hold. "These issues are going to impact rural Pennsylvania more than anything," Helfrey said. "Especially working women and minority communities, particularly in industries where women make up a large part of the workforce. We need to stay organized and keep showing up."

The next day of action in Erie, "TAX DAY - FAMILIES OVER BILLIONAIRES," will take place on Tuesday, April 15 from 12 - 2 p.m. in Perry Square, where participants will demand billionaires pay their fair share and protest tax policies that unfairly burden working families while benefiting the wealthy, according to organizers on mobilize.us. 

On Saturday, April 19, 50501 will host "OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE," in Perry Square. Taking its name from the words of Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, the event reflects a continued commitment to civic action and grassroots organizing. "The people will mobilize again, and again, until we make a difference," organizers wrote on social media.