Statehouse Rallygoers say, “Hands Off” to Executive Overreach

HARDWICK, MONTPELIER – Sixty people climbed into a school bus and van parked in the lot at Dona’s in Hardwick, Saturday, April 5 to attend a statehouse rally scheduled for noon in Montpelier. It had been organized by the grassroots 50501VT organization. The rally’s theme, “Hands Off,” was billed as a fight to uphold the constitution and end executive overreach.

Before the bus left, former Rep. Katherine Sims read a note from Rev. Ed Sunday-Winters, pastor at Greensboro United Church of Christ, who’d been instrumental in helping to organize the transportation, but was unable to attend.

“We must form squads of love and make a path through together . . . no matter how fearsome the mob. Only a community, the band that refuses to join the rabble, can keep us from going completely over the edge.“ — Diana Butler Bass (as found on Susie Weber-Toledo’s Facebook page.)

“Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I am almost in tears just thinking about what it means for all of you all to be together today. I am so grateful to you two [Katherine Sims and Cilla Bonney-Smith] for making sure this happened. It is something real. It will make a difference. We may have to do it a thousand times over, but it will make a difference,” wrote Sunday-Winters.

“Have a great day. God is with you, always.”

Don Houghton led the back of the bus in singing several classic protest songs before the bus pulled out at roughly 10:30 a.m.

Arriving in Montpelier a bit after 11, State Street was blocked off in front of the capitol. The statehouse lawn had already begun to fill up with protesters carrying mostly handmade signs on the day’s theme of “Hands Off,” after which a wide range of government supported programs that have been threatened were variously listed on different signs.

Walkways from State Street to the capitol building were lined with canopies set up by a wide range of mostly nonprofit organizations sympathetic to the day’s cause.

Rain showers, threatened in the day’s forecast, held off until about noon, when speakers began and then it was mostly a drizzle with briefly heavier periods.

The day’s speakers included former Governor Madeleine Kunin and Vermont Senate Majority leader Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale.

Senator Peter Welch spoke to his many concerns, saying “This president we have is on a lawless rampage, shredding the Constitution,” Welch said. “We are here today standing up for hope and democracy.”

Dr. Nikhil Goyal with the Onion River Chorus, performed “O Canada” to introduce Josh Freed, Montreal Gazette writer, director and columnist, who offered uplifting thoughts about the connection between neighboring states of Quebec and Vermont while pointing out the damage that’s been done to that relationship in a few short months.

Vermont Lt. Governor John Rodgers spoke to what he characterized as nonpartisan concerns about actions of the Trump administration, such as newly-imposed tariffs on Canadian goods and cuts to Medicare and Medicaid.

“It is time that the Republicans in Congress stand up for their constituents instead of following the will of their president,” Rodgers said.

A mostly positive response to Rodgers was followed by the crowd chanting for Governor Scott to speak, but the effort was no avail.

Executive Director of Central Vermont Refugee Action Network (CVRAN) Ali Zenie spoke, as did Vermont State Treasurer Mike Pieciak and Attorney General Charity Clark.

The event’s 50501 organizers said, “We had at least 10,000 people show up in Montpelier on Saturday, easily doubling our expectations. Despite yet more bad weather, Vermonters showed up! And Montpelier wasn’t the only place. Over 20 other towns and cities in Vermont held events on Saturday, totaling to over 23,000 people protesting in the streets of Vermont on Saturday.

“When 50501 Vermont was born at the beginning of February, we started with the goal of getting 22,575 Vermonters to come out in protest. Three and a half percent of the population is all it takes to change the world. On Saturday we all made history: by population, the highest percentage turnout of any of the states in one of the biggest single day national mobilizations ever.”

The event was one of over 1,600 held around the country, with the Alt National Park Service website estimating a total turnout of 5.2 million people.

After 90 minutes of speeches, some of the crowd began to march west on State Street, while the group that had traveled from Hardwick began to head for a rendezvous with their bus and van for the trip home.

A small group of protesters stood on the Main Street sidewalk in Hardwick at the Peace Park with signs echoing the Hands Off theme of the day.