Hands Off! Westport Protest Draws 1,500 People Or More
An crowd estimated by Westport Police to be 1500 people or more was the largest for a protest since the Black Lives Matter protests following the killing of George Floyd. The crowd along the Post Road stretched from Main Street to near the end of the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Memorial bridge on Saturday as Westport joined an estimated 1200, or possibly more towns and cities all across America in protest against the actions of Trump, Musk and DOGE in recent weeks.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Those who joined the protest rally spanned several generations, from a young woman proudly representing her generation to a 90-Something Veteran who showed up in his wheelchair. David Osborn, a Marine dive-bomber pilot who fought in World War 2 braved the cold day to make his voice heard.
No matter where one might stand on the issues, we have to agree that Westporters are very creative when it comes to creating signs. This artistic HANDS OFF banner took hours of work and addressed many of the issues protestors were there to bring to the collective attention, and was proudly signed by "Paula".
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Protests nationwide were organized through the Hands Off and Mobilize websites, with some taking place overseas as well. Locally, activist Bean Corcoran who has been organizing weekly protests on the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen bridge which have taken place for the last several weeks. Each group aims to address critical issues spanning a wide array of societal needs, such as significant reductions to the federal workforce and the slashing of funds for essential programs that support individuals from major cities to small towns. Environmental advocacy is central to their mission, as is the protection of reproductive rights and LGBTQ rights. These groups rally participants to unite their voices, emphasizing the importance of collective action in the pursuit of meaningful change. By focusing on these vital issues, they seek to build a more equitable and just society, ensuring that the concerns of marginalized communities are heard and prioritized in national discussions.
Traffic slowly crept along the Post Road as drivers honked horns, yelled and waved in support of the protestors, with many coming prepared, displaying signs of their own.
One of the issues of great concern was the impression that the administration is leaning toward facism, seeming to ignore sort orders, demanding that government employees either display complete fealty to Trump and programs many find appalling or risk losing their jobs. High ranking officials in civilian government and in the military have been fired for insufficient loyalty. DOGE has fired thousands, only to find they were needed and had to be re-hired.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
It is clear that Westporters joined millions of Americans on April 5th, with reports indicating that crowds reached tens of thousands at numerous events across the country. In Boston, organizers had initially estimated 25,000 participants for a rally near Government Center, but the turnout vastly exceeded expectations, with estimates ranging close to 100,000. The crowd was so large that it spread to nearby Boston Commons. Similarly, in New York City, tens of thousands marched up 5th Avenue in Manhattan, making their way between Madison Square and Bryant Parks. This widespread participation reflects a significant mobilization of civic engagement, resonating strongly along with local communities like Westport. In Detroit, Americans on one side of the Detroit River expressed solidarity with Canadians across the border, with protestors on each side showing the support for Canadian-American relations which have suffered under the current political climate.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
One protestor, Xavier Cronin brought guitar and with his friend holding a small amplifier, played songs including John Lennon’s imagine, a fitting soundtrack for the day’s event.
The diversity of protestors was clearly indicative of the broad swath of Westporters and Americans writ large who want to make their voices heard in opposition to actions they view as a threat to democracy and freedom to hold views contrary to those of the current administration.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
There was a very visible police presence with officers from Fairfield joining Westport PD and police cruisers blocking portions of the area roads. At left, Westport command staff including Chief Foti Koskinas kept a watchful eye on the demonstration. Below, Corporal Jimmy Loomer, Westport PD K-9 officer assists demonstrators moving about the protest.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Hands Off! Mass Mobilization Rally Saturday In Westport May Draw Hundreds
The Westport location of the nationwide Hands Off! movement will take place on Saturday, April 5th at 11:30 AM on the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Memorial Bridge in downtown Westport, where rallies have been held for several weeks now to protest recent actions by Trump and Musk which many feel are out of control, from mass layoffs of government workers to program killing cuts to programs ranging from health services to the arts.
Above right, State Senator Ceci Maher who represents Westport and surrounding towns standing (left) with former State Senator Will Haskell at a recent rally on the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen bridge. Photo By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com
National news outlets have reported that up to 1,000 rallies will be held from small towns to major cites like NYC and Washington. Registrations have been ongoing for a few weeks on sites like Mobilize.US HandsOff where additional information can be found.
Local activist Bean Corcoran, who has organized rallies at the bridge recently told WestportLocalPress there have been more than 850 registered to attend and she has raised the capacity to 1,000, but possible rain may curb attendance, although the day will be mild with temps nearing 50º.
State Senator Ceci Maher issued a press release yesterday on cancellation of grants to CT organizations including one to the Weston Historical Society. Maher's office said, " Today, State Senator Ceci Maher (D-Wilton) issued the following statement in response to the cancellation of a $25,000 federal grant committed to the Weston Historical Society in December by Elon Musk's DOGE this week, part of a larger $3 million cancellation of grants awarded and then rescinded across Connecticut by that body", adding, "The $25,000 was meant to support "Weston at Work," a permanent exhibit in town that would focus on Weston's industrial history and marginalized groups in its history."
It seems no dollar figure is too small to escape DOGE cuts, which have been widely criticized and have prompted a nationwide backlash.
A comprehensive report on these activities appears on Spectrum News 1.