Amherst Joins Nation in Protesting Trump’s Assault on Democracy

Hundreds of people gathered on the Town Common in front of Town Hall on March 4, to protest the Trump Administration’s assault on democracy.  The event was part of a nationwide mobilization of people who want to demonstrate against the policies and actions being taken by the President. Locally the vigil was sponsored by the League of Women Voters Amherst and 19 other organizations (see poster below pictures for a listing).   

Many of those attending brought homemade signs that offered a catalog of grievances against the current administration including Trump’s disregard for the rule of law, attacks on federally sponsored research, proposals to cut back Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, and Elon Musk’s role in dismantling federal agencies.  There were many signs accusing Musk and Trump of a coup and of attempting to overthrow democracy.

On this day Trump announced that he was suspending all military aid to Ukraine and cutting them off from access to US military intelligence, profoundly undermining their capacity to fend off the Russian invasion of their country that began three years ago.  Many Ukrainian flags and signs supporting Ukraine were evident.

The featured speaker was State Representative Mindy Domb who offered a message emphasizing resistance and solidarity, urging the assembled to stick together and fight back. She said, “They expect us to not be organized. They are attempting to divide us. We need to name what he is doing and not turn on each other…. They treat others like crap. We must do the opposite and treat each other with love and kindness.”

Read about similar vigils elsewhere:
Signs of Resistance: Trump Musk Protestors Decry Coup from Overpasses, and at Northampton City Hall (Daily Hampshire Gazette)

Demonstrators Across 50 States Look to Unify a Disparate Opposition to Trump and His Sweeping Agenda (Associated Press)