A Few Voices from the Thousands Who Joined the “Hands Off” Protest Saturday
Photos and Story by Giles Clasen
Thousands once again gathered at the Colorado State Capitol in Denver on Saturday to protest President Donald Trump’s policies and executive orders.
The protest came amid growing fears of a rollback in civil liberties and increased political rhetoric targeting vulnerable populations. The protest had an energy of jubilation and anger.
The crowd was marked by many smiling faces from individuals excited to stand with others. But there was also fury from protesters about Trump’s attacks on BIPOC communities, immigrants, federal workers, and the trans and queer communities.
“What he's doing is bullshit,” said Brenda Bronson, who wore a “Resist” button pinned to her cap. “I am here to save democracy for my grandson. We are mad. We are angry. We need a leader to bring us together and fight for our democracy. We’re desperate to save it.”
Carol Smith, a trans woman, told the crowd, “We are the canary in the coal mine — and we’re dying right now.”
Speaking from the Capitol steps, she said she is a federal worker and served in the military until she was forced out when she came out in 1986. Smith served during the Vietnam War.
"Trump can change a letter on my ID. But that won't change who I am. You have the power to send your henchmen out and beat me in the streets again. But I already know I'll get back up. You have the power to stand me against a wall and shoot me, but if you do, I will die as the strong, proud woman I am," Smith said.
Smith told the crowd that the LGBTQ+ community is part of the fabric of the American experience, and the community will stand up when oppressed.
Roseanne Jelacic, attending just weeks after a hip replacement surgery covered by Medicare, said she returned to protest because “I will not live in an autocracy.”
“I stand by the rule of law because without the rule of law, you have no society, and you'll just get pushed around by dictator bullies," Jelacic said. "I've always hated bullies. I learned in grade school that what you do with the bullies is to stand up and tell him how stupid they are, and they check out and run off — and just like Trump will do someday.”
The protesters ranged in age, ethnicity, and background, from veterans of the Vietnam War-era demonstrations to young immigrants.
“I’m a proud daughter of two immigrants,” said Lizeth Huerta, who's family immigrated from Cuba when Fidel Castro seized power. “Everyone before me in my family is an immigrant. I love diversity, and I’m here to support our entire community, especially those most at risk.”
Michael Alexander, a federal research scientist who said he was forced into early retirement due to government cuts, came to warn of broader threats. “Many of my colleagues may be laid off soon,” he said. “We study weather and climate — critical work that protects this nation. It’s being disregarded.”
For others, the protest was deeply personal. Rebecca, who uses a wheelchair and asked to be identified by only her first name, attended with her partner Aren to fight against cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, and the American safety net.
“This is a fascist, authoritarian regime trying to take over our country. I believe they don’t care whether we, the disabled, live or die. I think they want us dead because they see us as a drag on society, and all they care about is money,” Rebecca said.
“This is about more than one man,” Robert Davis, who is the executive director of Seasoned with Grace UnBoxed, said to the crowd. “Trump is not the problem — he’s the outgrowth of white supremacy.”
Davis told the crowd that Trump had gained power by capitalizing on America's racist beliefs and saying publicly what most would only say in private.
"There was no Donald Trump when Denver was pushing its Black citizens further and further out of the city through gentrification," Davis said. "There was no Donald Trump when our unhoused citizens — when our Democrat-led city council and our Democrat-led state representatives and governors — were criminalizing being unhoused. I know it seems in vogue to blame all of our woes on Donald Trump. Donald Trump is just the manifestation of the nation that we've always been."
The “Hands Off” protest was one of several nationwide actions held over the weekend, organized to defend civil liberties and democratic institutions. Many attendees said they plan to remain engaged and return for the next protest.
“We don’t stop here,” said protestor Ashley Perez, who perched on a Capitol pillar in a yellow hat. “I’m here to fight all of the injustice happening to people all over the United States. This country was built on equality and rights, and that’s being stripped away.”