“Hands Off!” rally in Washington protests Trump administration policies
The steps of the Washington County Courthouse Saturday afternoon were flooded with protestors who voiced their opposition to the policies of President Donald Trump.
The rally in downtown Washington was one of more than 1,000 that took place across the country over the weekend as part of the nationwide “Hands Off!” movement. Rally-goers were focused on the Trump administration’s cuts to federal agencies and services, as well as reproductive rights and protections for the LGBTQ+ community.
Donna Patrina is president of the Washington/Greene County Central Labor Council, which helped organize the local demonstration with the Washington County Democratic Committee.
“It’s very important that we all show up and stand up for, No. 1, democracy, medicare, DEI, gay rights, the miners with their (Mine Safety and Health Administration) rights being taken away from them, Social Security, Medicaid, women’s rights. You name it, I’m here for everybody. I’ve been a strong union advocate for 20 years and I will always be here; I will always show up,” Patrina said.
Protestors chanted, “Lock him up” and “Tax the rich” while carrying signs mocking the president and Elon Musk, Trump’s selected head of the Department of Government Efficiency.
Christina Proctor, chair of the Washington County Democratic Committee, estimated about 500 people attended the rally.
“People are deeply concerned about the powerful, unchecked role that an unelected billionaire has been given over the U.S. government, about the impact of widespread federal layoffs, as well as the economic impact caused by new tariffs, including rising prices, job losses and the huge downturn in the stock market,” Proctor said in an emailed statement.
Several signs carried the phrase “Nobody elected Musk.” Nancy Holmes brought her own homemade sign that called the DOGE cuts a “chainsaw massacre” that “only helps the rich.”
“Well, Elon Musk likes to go around with his chainsaw, and he’s cutting things that we need as Americans,” Holmes said. “There are so many people that are in need … He’s cutting things just to pad his own pocket.”
Holmes lived in McDonald for 34 years but recently moved to Scott Township in Allegheny County. She said she has been attending protests since 1968.
“I came to Washington County because I thought Pittsburgh would have enough people, but I’m so proud of the people that came out today,” Holmes said.
Holmes added that she has deep concern for the current state of democracy, which she described as being in “such trouble.”
“I just hope that we can change things around,” Holmes said.