Islanders were fired up April 5 at the Hands Off protest.

Well over 500, some estimates as high as 800, gathered at the courthouse lawn at noon, holding signs telling the Trump Administration to keep hands off Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, education, libraries and parks. Signs slammed President Trump, Elon Musk and oligarchies and called everyone into action to save democracy.

Other protests were held on Orcas, Lopez and Shaw.

“Today, I did not come here as mayor. I do not come as a Republican or a Democrat, liberal or a MAGA man,” Ray Jackson told the crowd. “We are all in this battle together. There was a time when some of you may have let things go on the way they were. Maybe you thought whatever was happening in Washington wasn’t going to affect you, and if it did, it wasn’t that bad. But I guess you now realize that when you’re asleep at the wheel, the car is bound to crash.”

Jackson went on to talk about being a three-time veteran and witnessing veterans being under attack by recent policies. The current administration has cut 80,000 Veteran Affairs employees, making it more difficult for veterans in need to access benefits and resources.

Jackson also listed a plethora of other threats by the administration, saying, “Our seniors are being attacked, being told they can’t have their social security, their God-given right, that they earned and deserved. [People] are wondering if their vote counts, who you can sleep with, who you can marry, who can dictate how you can do things religiously.”

Jackson closed with, “The time has come to no longer be reactive. Become proactive. You have the power as an individual with your vote to make change. That’s how this country was founded, by individuals who did not tolerate tyranny. … We have to make change before it becomes unchangeable. The attack is on our liberties, on our judicial system, on our financial system. I’m calling all soldiers, anyone who is an American citizen, to use your voice as a weapon to change what is happening.”

Spring Street student Althena Moore, who lives on Orcas, spoke next. Moore urged attendees not to get caught up in the chaos and confusion strown by Trump and Musk, but to keep centered in facts and understand the Constitution.

“Our Democracy is in danger of becoming illegitimate,” she said. “These executive orders are not meant to put anything in place. Rather, they were meant to overwhelm the system with misinformation and distracting policy and see what gets through.”

Moore mentioned fascism as a threat to democracy and urged people to fight fascism with love. “Find a way to understand every person around you. Find a way to love your neighbors. Find a love that can extend … to all beliefs, religions different than yours, political opinions different than yours, sexualities, races, genders different than yours,” she said. “Perhaps the hardest thing to do right now is to understand Trump and Musk supporters.”

Moore encouraged the crowd to try anyway.

Members of the French family, an original Indigenous family of San Juan Island, spoke next.

“Indigenous people are suffering again too,” Rebbecca French told the crowd. “We are losing the ability to see doctors, to have clean water, to fish and hunt in our usual custom that was our treaty. … Right now, with our government, your treaties are being broken too, your treaties and your abilities; your funding, your income, your social security, your veterans benefits, access to veterans care, all that is being threatened.”

Now is not the time for crying, she continued, “Now is the time to see what is in your cupboard. Take care of what you have. You may not be able to spend so much anymore, so let’s share, let’s get to know each other. Let’s find out how to keep each other well.”

She closed with a quote from Wilma Mankiller: “Never, never give up.”

Josiah French spoke next, addressing the crowd first in his Indigenous language. “Our language remembers this place and what it really is. We are here today because we see it is happening again. Trump came into office swinging and signing executive orders, making backroom deals laying the groundwork to erase Indigenous voices from the conversation completely. It’s happening fast, and most people are not paying attention.”

That’s how it always happens, Josiah continued. “It starts with pipelines and emergency declarations, with cuts to education, health care, climate research. It starts with beaurocrats saying, ‘This doesn’t concern you. We already consulted the tribes.’ It starts with locals in small towns like this, shrugging their shoulders and saying, well, that’s just politics. It isn’t just politics to us. It’s our land, it’s our future, it’s our treaty rights.”

David Robison told the crowd that in 2004 he had to marry his husband in Canada because it was not yet legal in the United States.

“As a patriot, and a descendant of patriots – that hurt,” he told attendees. “Thankfully, due to the actions of people like us here today, and other allies, including the U.S. Supreme Court, we made progress. And, in 2016 the U.S. finally recognized that love is love and commitment is commitment. This change also meant that trans, intersex and nonbinary people could marry the people they love. This has been a boon to those people, and it’s been a boon to all of us.”

Robison continued, “We’re seeing significant attacks by the current administration on the rights and basic humanity of our trans, intersex and nonbinary compatriots as well as the whole concept of diversity, equity and inclusion which are just three words that really mean empathy.”

Contributed photo by Chase Anderson A few of the signs from “Hands Off.”

contributed photo by Chase Anderson Trinity Althoff brought down the house.

contributed photo by Chase Anderson Trinity Althoff brought down the house.

contributed photo by Chase Anderson Trinity Althoff brought down the house.

contributed photo by Chase Anderson Trinity Althoff brought down the house.

Heather Spaulding \ Staff photo Attendees.

Heather Spaulding \ Staff photo Tribal members spoke on their history and current concerns.

Heather Spaulding \ Staff photo

Heather Spaulding \ Staff photo

Heather Spaulding \ Staff photo More signage.

Heather Spaulding \ Staff photo More signage.

Heather Spaulding \ Staff photo Trinity Althoff brought down the house with her music.

Heather Spaulding \ Staff photo Hands off

Heather Spaulding \ Staff photo Guy Fawkes made an appearance.

Heather Spaulding \ Staff photo Dogs were allowed, and busy using their noses.

Heather Spaulding \ Staff photo Dogs were allowed, and busy using their noses.

Heather Spaulding \ Staff photo Dogs were allowed, and busy using their noses.

Heather Spaulding \ Staff photo One of the Hands Off signs.

Heather Spaulding Staff photo One of the hundreds of protesters April 5.

Heather Spaulding Staff photo County Council Chair Kari McVeigh addresses the crowd individually, not in her county capacity.

Heather Spaulding \ Staff photo More attendees with signs.

Heather Spaulding \ Staff photo Hundreds of people attended. Heather Spaulding \ Staff photo Hundreds of people attended.

Heather Spaulding \ Staff photo Ray Jackson, speaking not as the mayor but a concerned citizen.

Heather Spaulding \ Staff photo Ray Jackson, speaking not as the mayor but a concerned citizen.