April 5 Protests Planned in Berkshire Region
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire County residents will be joining thousands across the country on Saturday in protests against the policies of the Trump administration.
A thousand rallies alone are posted on Mobilize.us, an organizing platform.
More locally, Hands Off! rallies will be held from noon to 2 at the Adams Town Common; 11 to 1 at Great Barrington Town Hall; at noon in front of First Congregational Church in Williamstown; at 1 p.m. at Park Square in Pittsfield; at 11 at Stockbridge Town Hall; from noon to 1 at the four corners in downtown Bennington, Vt.
The events will be rain or shine and rally-goers are asked bring only signs, no signs on sticks.
Protests are also planned in Greenfield, Springfield, Albany, N.Y., Boston and Washington, D.C.
The mobilization is a reaction to dramatic cuts in the federal workforce, loss of grant funding, elimination of entire federal departments, perceived threats to Social Security, and actions by the "Department of Government Efficiency," spearheaded by multibillionaire Elon Musk.
"These rallies throughout Berkshire County are our message to the world that we do not consent to the destruction of our government and our economy for the benefit of Trump and his billionaire allies," said Sherwood Guernsey, a former state legislator and organizer of the Williamstown event. "Alongside Americans across the country, we are rallying both to demand Trump and Musk stop the chaos and to build an opposition movement to halt the looting of our country."
There have been scattered grassroots protests over the last few months but opponents of the administration have been planning for a massive mobilization on April 5 highlighting their concerns over education, health care, discrimination and personal freedoms.
"Donald Trump and Elon Musk think this country belongs to them," the coalition of progressive organizations writes on the "Hand's Off" web page. "They're taking everything they can get their hands on, and daring the world to stop them. On Saturday, April 5th, we're taking to the streets nationwide to fight back with a clear message: Hands off!"
The group says it's committed to nonviolent protests and its expects "participants to seek to de-escalate potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values and to act lawfully at these events."
A busload of Berkshirites coordinated by Greylock Together will be joining the Boston march on Saturday morning. More than 5,000 people have indicated their intent to attend the rally with speakers including U.S. Sen. Edward Markey, the presidents of several unions and the Dropkick Murphys.
That rally starts at the bandstand on the Common at 11 and marches to City Hall Plaza for the speakers.
Tags: protests,
