Hands Off rallies, locally and nationally, were aimed at Trump’s and Musk’s destructive actions

Saturday, April 5th, at noon, hundreds rallied on the south side of the Capitol Building in Jackson, Mississippi. In doing so, they joined hundreds of thousands of fellow activists and citizens staging staged rallies in every state of the United States of America and several foreign countries. The Jackson rally was the first under this banner, but was the second local iteration of the movement attended by some rally-goers. The convenor was Attorney Kathleen O’Beirne.

According to Pam Johnson, one of the local organizers also serving as mistress of ceremonies, the rally is not a one-time event and will continue as long as necessary. 

In addition to Johnson, the program featured guitarist Scott Albert Johnson and a battery of six speakers, each of whom addressed a different set of policy concerns. There was also an added feature as long-time activist Jan Hillegas serenaded the crowd with an original poem that was recently set to music.

The audience was very diverse, consisting of a healthy share of Black and white progressives, activists, everyday citizens, laborers, professionals, elderly, young, and middle-agers. They remained lively and energetic despite the heat and a group of hecklers with a megaphone, for the 90 minute rally. Many in the crowd carried signs creatively expressing their feelings.

The first speaker was O’Beirne. She implored the Trump administration to keep its hands off several human welfare programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and education. In an engaging way, she talked about the damage being done to these programs and the need for the programs to remain alive and active.

Next, Ashley Floyd stepped-up and addressed the topic of Trump’s attacks on women and reproductive rights. Under the caption, “Hands Off My Body,” she championed the position that should characterize American life and society. Contrary to that needed, she described what has been happening in those states under Trump’s MAGA influence.

Jon Fields, who along with Ms. Floyd, was one the youngest speakers, addressed the topic of individual rights. Identifying himself as an artist, he spoke as an advocate for the right of each person to be able to develop his/her gifts and talents. In that regard, he stated that the Trump administration must avoid or back away from oppressive actions in schools, libraries, and other institutions that people depend upon to become fully developed.

After a musical break, wherein Johnson led the crowd in singing “This Land is Your Land,” Bill Gray spoke, admonishing Trump and Elon Musk to keep their hands off veterans’ affairs and benefits, and off America’s allies that have helped this country politically and economically for the past century, concluding with criticism of how Trump administration officials discussed its recent military attacks on Yemen. 

The next speaker, Brooke Herman, warned Trump and Musk to cease their assaults on “diversity, equity and inclusion” (DEI) initiatives. Herman stated that these initiatives are needed to expand the pool of qualified individuals and that DEI does not mean merit is ignored in hiring practices. Herman also said DEI is merely the latest mechanism created to help level the playing field from which many qualified people are often excluded.

Senatorial candidate Ty Pinkins was the final speaker. His focus was on keeping the hands of would-be dictators and his oligarchs off the American Constitution and the practice of American democracy. Quoting from the Constitution, the Gettysburg Address, and other documents, Pinkins contrasted the threats that can be seen in the policies and actions of the Trump administration and Musk. Pinkins underscored various social programs that must be protected from Trump administration policies.

The rally closed with the singing of the American national anthem.

Although the names of the speakers changed from one city to the next, the message of the Hands Off rallies was the same. The Jackson Hands Off Rally was just one among hundreds nationally-coordinated and designed to express how ordinary citizens feel about the destructive actions of the Trump administration. In addition to the state capitals, there were rallies in many other cities, large and small, including Chicago, Washington DC, Berkeley, Miami, Kansas City, Boston, Baltimore, Green Bay, Dallas, New Orleans, Portland, and Seattle.

The purpose, nature, and spirit of the rallies remind one of the labor movement, women’s movement, and the civil rights movement of other time periods. It shows that “the politics of protest” are alive and well and that many people still believe in the promise of America.