Hands Off! Westport Protest Draws 1,500 People Or More
An crowd estimated by Westport Police to be 1500 people or more was the largest for a protest since the Black Lives Matter protests following the killing of George Floyd. The crowd along the Post Road stretched from Main Street to near the end of the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Memorial bridge on Saturday as Westport joined an estimated 1200, or possibly more towns and cities all across America in protest against the actions of Trump, Musk and DOGE in recent weeks.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Those who joined the protest rally spanned several generations, from a young woman proudly representing her generation to a 90-Something Veteran who showed up in his wheelchair. David Osborn, a Marine dive-bomber pilot who fought in World War 2 braved the cold day to make his voice heard.
No matter where one might stand on the issues, we have to agree that Westporters are very creative when it comes to creating signs. This artistic HANDS OFF banner took hours of work and addressed many of the issues protestors were there to bring to the collective attention, and was proudly signed by "Paula".
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Protests nationwide were organized through the Hands Off and Mobilize websites, with some taking place overseas as well. Locally, activist Bean Corcoran who has been organizing weekly protests on the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen bridge which have taken place for the last several weeks. Each group aims to address critical issues spanning a wide array of societal needs, such as significant reductions to the federal workforce and the slashing of funds for essential programs that support individuals from major cities to small towns. Environmental advocacy is central to their mission, as is the protection of reproductive rights and LGBTQ rights. These groups rally participants to unite their voices, emphasizing the importance of collective action in the pursuit of meaningful change. By focusing on these vital issues, they seek to build a more equitable and just society, ensuring that the concerns of marginalized communities are heard and prioritized in national discussions.
Traffic slowly crept along the Post Road as drivers honked horns, yelled and waved in support of the protestors, with many coming prepared, displaying signs of their own.
One of the issues of great concern was the impression that the administration is leaning toward facism, seeming to ignore sort orders, demanding that government employees either display complete fealty to Trump and programs many find appalling or risk losing their jobs. High ranking officials in civilian government and in the military have been fired for insufficient loyalty. DOGE has fired thousands, only to find they were needed and had to be re-hired.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
It is clear that Westporters joined millions of Americans on April 5th, with reports indicating that crowds reached tens of thousands at numerous events across the country. In Boston, organizers had initially estimated 25,000 participants for a rally near Government Center, but the turnout vastly exceeded expectations, with estimates ranging close to 100,000. The crowd was so large that it spread to nearby Boston Commons. Similarly, in New York City, tens of thousands marched up 5th Avenue in Manhattan, making their way between Madison Square and Bryant Parks. This widespread participation reflects a significant mobilization of civic engagement, resonating strongly along with local communities like Westport. In Detroit, Americans on one side of the Detroit River expressed solidarity with Canadians across the border, with protestors on each side showing the support for Canadian-American relations which have suffered under the current political climate.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
One protestor, Xavier Cronin brought guitar and with his friend holding a small amplifier, played songs including John Lennon’s imagine, a fitting soundtrack for the day’s event.
The diversity of protestors was clearly indicative of the broad swath of Westporters and Americans writ large who want to make their voices heard in opposition to actions they view as a threat to democracy and freedom to hold views contrary to those of the current administration.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
There was a very visible police presence with officers from Fairfield joining Westport PD and police cruisers blocking portions of the area roads. At left, Westport command staff including Chief Foti Koskinas kept a watchful eye on the demonstration. Below, Corporal Jimmy Loomer, Westport PD K-9 officer assists demonstrators moving about the protest.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.