Waving signs and yelling “hands off,” close to 1,000 people gathered around Athens City Hall Saturday afternoon to protest the actions and policies of President Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, creator of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Organized by Indivisible 10 and the Democratic committees of Athens-Clarke and Oconee counties, the event was one of hundreds in cities and towns across the country.
People stood three and four deep on both sides of College Avenue, and they spilled over to Washington Street and Hancock Avenue, waving signs, sipping water and cheering speakers.
Emcee Mokah Jasmine Johnson of the Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement revved up the crowd by shouting, “What do we want?” “and hearing “Hands Off!” “When do we want it?” “Now!” She told the crowd to show up “not just today, but every day.”
Among those speaking were the Rev. Haley Lerner, United Church of Christ campus minister; Alys Willman of the Athens Immigrant Rights Coalition and Abby Horvath, a former medevac pilot with the U.S. Army. Musicians Joe Willey and Caroline Aiken performed. Mayor Kelly Girtz told the crowd they represented the true spirit of Athens.
“It’s my first protest in 55 years,” said attorney Kent Silver of Winterville. “I’m worried about Social Security.”
Dave Ortel of Oconee County held a sign that said, “You Can’t Spell Felon without Elon.”
Athenians Ethan and Fiona Ganas came to City Hall to support Ethan’s trans sibling, while Maureen Cahill said it was difficult to articulate all of her many concerns about the gutting of federal programs. “I’m here because I’m tired of feeling I’m not doing enough.”
Jan Hudson of Watkinsville said that dictators have been kicked out of Europe when enough people have come together, demanding they leave. “I’m afraid we’re going to lose our democracy,” she said. “I want Trump out.”
Several people waved signs that quoted New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker: “The power of the people is greater than the people in power.” Stacy Doonan and her mom, Leila Doonan, both of Athens, came to the protest “because it’s important.”
Bobby Eberhardt held a sign saying, “My dad killed Nazis,” referring to Elon Musk’s “sieg heil” salute during Trump’s inauguration. The greeting favored by Hitler and his ilk, the salute is banned in Germany. Eberhardt’s father was in the Battle of Anzio, the Allied operation that liberated Rome from the fascist Mussolini regime in 1944.
Susan Abramson of Washington, GA, held a sign that said, “Dear Canada: We Hate Him, Too.”
Charles Connolly of Oglethorpe County came to the protest because, he said, “I’m frightened, I’m angry, and I thought it was time to do something.”
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