Dozens of Marblehead residents joined hundreds of protesters in Salem Saturday as part of nationwide “Hands Off” demonstration organized to oppose the Trump administration’s policies. The crowd grew so large it had to be moved from City Hall to Riley Plaza, where demonstrators filled the brick-paved area beneath a cloudy April sky.
Marblehead resident Larkin Smith, 12, led the crowd in an enthusiastic chant after sharing her vision for unity.
“What we need right now is we need to come together, so love, not hate! Love, not hate! Love, not hate!” Smith called out, with a sea of protesters before her joining in.
Protesters of all ages bundled in winter coats against the cool spring air carried handmade signs with messages including “Save Constitutional Rights,” “Hands Off Our Books,” “Dismantle Autocracy Not Democracy,” and “Trump Is Not Super He’s Corrupt.”
American flags waved throughout the crowd, with some protesters displaying signs reading “Hands Off Due Process,” “Free Speech” and “Our Constitution.”
The Marblehead League of Women Voters participated alongside the LWV of Massachusetts and the national organization in the nonviolent protest, which ran from noon to 2 p.m.
According to a statement, the League supported the event to protest “federal threats to public education, Medicare, Social Security and democracy itself.”
Marblehead resident Mimi Lemay said she wasn’t surprised by the turnout given current political tensions.
“I think we’ve reached a crisis point on so many fronts, whether it’s law and order, democratic norms or even national security,” Lemay said. “The flaunting of Trump’s intent to break all these norms and to break institutions has affected such a large swath of the country that I think we’re seeing people come out who typically might not have.”
Lemay emphasized the importance of ongoing civic engagement beyond a single protest.
“It’s going to be a long four years and we need as many people to start resisting as possible, and we’re going to save our democracy,” she said. “It’s going to be up to us having endurance to resist over time. That’s a very different kind of activity … it’s a lot harder to resist over time.”
She stressed the significance of both national and local elections. “We have to see who in our local offices are working to preserve democratic norms and who are working to erode or take them away. I think it’s really important that everyone show up,” Lemay said. “Regardless of what side of the political aisle you might normally have said, I think we all stand to lose far too much, something we cannot get back if our democracy erodes past the point of no return.”
Salem City Councilor Jeff Cohen, speaking with emotion to the gathered crowd, expressed fears for vulnerable populations being affected by current policies.
“I’m scared of kids who are walking home from school and are worried whether their family is going to be there when they get home,” Cohen said, his voice rising as he addressed the demonstrators. “I’m scared of people who depend on their savings for the rest of their life. I’m scared for all the trans, non-binary people who can’t go out in public and walk the streets by themselves.”
Joe Pinto, Salem resident and Harvard professor, offered a more nuanced message, suggesting outreach toward Trump supporters while standing firm against anti-democratic rhetoric.
“I listen to Trump supporters speak, and what I hear them say is that they believe that the working class, working people have been abandoned. I agree with them,” Pinto said, calling for understanding of the economic concerns that drive some Trump support. “Unfortunately, they have become susceptible to messages that have been corrupted by hate and attempts to dismantle this democracy.”
Pinto urged protesters to maintain compassionate engagement while defending democratic values. “Reach out to them with love in your heart. Listen with curiosity. Draw lines. Do not stand for what you can’t abide. But by all means, be curious, be loving,” he said. “Let’s rebuild this movement.”
Others spoke to other advocacy efforts and concerns.
“ICE can now invade health care centers and schools and take our patients away, put them in detention camps,” Salem resident Margaret Larson said. “Know your rights, know the laws, know your local judges. ICE will try to prevent illegitimate warrants and take people away. Make sure that shit is verified. Don’t let them take your people.”
Larson also advocated for reproductive and gender-affirming healthcare. “Women need birth control. People with vaginas need birth control counseling and access to affordable health care,” she said.
Robin Carlo traveled from Gloucester with her dog, Ruthie, named after Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Carlo cited family connections to her activism.
“I’m here because my father and my father in law fought in World War Two. So this wouldn’t happen, so the state of our country wouldn’t be this,” Carlo said. “Because my mother’s Social Security and many of her medical benefits are at risk, and because I have grandchildren, and I grew up proud of this country.”
Protesters chant and hold signs during the Hands Off rally in Salem.
Despite her concerns, Carlo maintained optimism. “I’m always optimistic because of this, and because there’s always a remnant, and the remnant is starting to make noise now,” she said.
Carlo also expressed regional pride: “I think New England, if I have to live somewhere in this country, I’m glad I live in New England. I think Massachusetts has a lot to be proud of.”
