Protests Blossom All Over the State
April 5 was a beautiful spring day in the state of North Carolina.
By Nelda Holder –
So it was no surprise, really, that so many people came to downtown Raleigh, the capital city, for a rally on the Bicentennial Mall against the Trump Administration’s policies.
And to Asheville, the “capital of west.” And no surprise, really, that they were in an extraordinarily good mood, despite carrying protest signs that spelled out the reasons for the rally.
To give you the flavor, here are my Top Ten:
“Honk if you never drunk texted war plans!”
“3 Branches of Government! NO KING”
“STOP the COUP-RUPTION”
“In Your (Heart) You Know He’s Wrong”
“The Doge Ate My Constitution!”
“They Cut/We Bleed — Medicaid, Veteran Services, FDA, Social Security, USAID, Mental Health Services
EPA, National Parks, NOAA, LGBTQIA Rights, CDC”
“When Injustice Becomes Law, Resistance Becomes Duty”
“Will Trade Racists for Refugees”
“Porsche – FAST/Ferrari – FASTER/TESLA FASCIST”
“No Kings in America”
“Fire Elon”
The attendance for the April 5 “Hands Off!” pro-democracy rally in the capital city, according to The News and Observer, was estimated to be around 4,500. Add the numbers in Durham and Chapel Hill, and the Triangle evidently had at minimum of 7,000 on the streets, with smaller towns adding more. Then the Charlotte protest produced at least 3,000 more. And Asheville, the so-called “Western Capital,” may have been the top protest-getter with more than 7,000 all on its own. Other areas were not left out. There were reportedly hundreds in Wilmington, Winston-Salem, over a thousand in Greensboro….
But of course the protests were not just statewide. The Associated Press reported more than 1,200 locations in all 50 states that included “civil rights organizations, labor unions, LBGTQ+ advocates, veterans and elections activists.” All peaceful, with no reports of arrests.
Frankly, it was the least “angry” protest I remember going to. And it was also—in my opinion—one of the most unifying and determined and … well … patriotic to the core. Here, of course, is my chance to quote one of my favorite foremothers, Abigail Adams (partner of John Adams, the second president of this country): “If we do not lay out ourselves in the service of mankind whom should we serve?”
That seemed to be the question, and the spirit, of the crowds that took to the streets carrying their homemade signs on a sunny Saturday, waving and clapping and sometimes roaring their approval at other signs and symbols. And smiling. Lots of smiles. But behind those faces were the concerns printed on their signs.
DOGE (the Department of Government Efficiency) has produced indiscriminate workforce cuts to federal agencies; threats to the functioning of two premier lifelines for millions, Social Services and Social Security; other random federal workforce reductions en masse; disassembly of cultural and heritage traditions and mainstays. And the linchpin—actions have been and are being done unilaterally and without planning or public knowledge/involvement. Sound like a democracy to you? Or were you there in the streets?
Here were some of the print reactions around North Carolina:
Wilmington Star-News: “Hundreds attend anti-Trump ‘Hands Off’ protests in downtown Wilmington, Brunswick County”
CBS17 Local News, Raleigh: “‘Hands Off’ rallies seen across North Carolina as protesters decry Trump and Musk”
The Charlotte Observer: Thousands protest Trump over funding cuts, Department of Education and more in Charlotte”
Blue Ridge Public Radio: “Thousands in WNC protest Trump policies at ‘Hands Off’ Events”
Raleigh News & Observer: “Thousands turn out for ‘Hands off!’ anti-Trump protests across Triangle and NC”
Mother Jones: “Anti-Trump Protesters All Over the World Are Flooding the Streets”
Fox News: “‘Hands Off!’ protests held in Washington DC, North Carolina”
NBC News: “Demonstrators rally in ‘Hands Off’ protests against Trump policies and Musk-led government cuts”
What comes next? It seems we have to wait until the president’s attendance is over at the Saudi Arabia-backed golf tournament at West Palm Beach, Florida’s Trump International Golf Club. (According to Huffpost, the president’s “second-term golf-playing tab has, in less than two months, surpassed $26 million.” So what if your 401(k) value is reeling in the wake of the president’s tariff announcements?
(Editor’s Note: After this article was written, Trump announced—surprise!—that he had won the LIV tournament.)
