Hundreds of community members took over downtown Kent Saturday afternoon to express their thoughts on the current presidential administration in a peaceful gathering. 

Kent’s protest was part of a country-wide movement that brought millions of Americans to the streets. “Hands Off” is a political movement focused on democracy and nonviolent speech; April 5 was their set day of action. 

The group mobilized for many different reasons, including Social Security and Medicare, taxpayer money, workers’ protections and minority community representation.  

Their website displays this message: “Across the country, thousands of people will march, rally, disrupt and demand an end to this billionaire power grab. We’ll show up at state capitals, federal buildings, congressional offices and city centers—anywhere we can make sure they hear us.”

Marsha Keith, a Kent resident, said she lives solely on Social Security and has Medicare and Medicaid. 

“It’s the entire cruelty that bothers me, you know, the racism, the ableism; it’s just cruel,” she said about the first months of Trump’s presidency.

Keith is an artist and made a sign to help convey her thoughts. She said she sees the current political environment as male-dominated or favored, which is why she wrote “mother God” at the very top of her sign. 

“And LGBTQ, I’m a member of that,” Keith said. “I’m in the generation where we had to be closeted, and the loss of marriage equality is devastating.”

Within fifteen minutes of the inception of the protest, hundreds of people flooded both sides Water Street and Main Street as well as the bridge. Signs downtown displayed many of these very different perspectives but had one overt message: “hands off.”

Another community member, Trinity Ravenwood, also came to support the queer community. 

“There are way too many queer and trans youth that are being murdered and dying of suicide because of not being able to get gender-affirming care or not having people understand that they’re real humans,” Ravenwood said. 

Ravenwood’s sign displayed numerous names of queer and transgender people who have died as youth. “I fight for them and speak up for them,” Ravenwood said. “It’s nowhere near finished, unfortunately and sadly.”

Over 1,000 of these “Hands Off” protests have occurred nationwide and globally with the aim of spreading awareness of the Trump administration’s attacks on marginalized groups, but the coalition is still mobilizing.  

Ari Collins is a beat reporter. Contact her at [email protected].