SNOHOMISH COUNTY—Thousands of protesters congregated throughout the county Saturday, April 19, in protest of the Trump administration and the leader of DOGE, Elon Musk.
On Broadway, from the 41st Street Overpass to Marine Drive, in Everett a plethora of honking horns emanated down the streets as flowing traffic passed by crowds of people bearing signs standing against fascism and oligarchy.
In South County, on the corner of 196th Street and Highway 99 in Lynnwood several others did the same.
The gathering was all part of the Hands Off movement, which has sparked protests and rallies across the nation – beginning earlier this month – in more than a thousand capitols and cities with millions of participants, Hands Off reported in a news release.
Hands Off is a nonpartisan, decentralized, organization calling attention to the “attacks” on local communities and federal cuts that are “causing chaos, fear, and negative impacts,” said Paula Townsell, Co-Lead and Event Organizer of Snohomish County’s chapter.
Locally, in Snohomish County, the events are spearheaded by the local organization Snohomish County Indivisible which Townsell organizes events for. According to Townsell these gatherings have been the largest political rallies in Snohomish County history clocking in an estimated 3,500 participants.
The grassroots movements has also been holding ‘Refuse Fascism – Americans Against Oligarchy’ sign waving events on Fridays at various locations around the county including Marysville, Mill Creek, Lynnwood, and Everett.
“This is a nationwide mobilization to stop the most brazen power grab in modern history. Trump, Musk, and their billionaire cronies are orchestrating an all-out assault on our government, our economy, and our basic rights—enabled by Congress every step of the way,” the Hands Off website states. “They want to strip America for parts—shuttering Social Security offices, firing essential workers, eliminating consumer protections, and gutting Medicaid—all to bankroll their billionaire tax scam. They’re handing over our tax dollars, our public services, and our democracy to the ultra-rich…If we don’t fight now, there won’t be anything left to save.”
The movement said the mass mobilization day is a message to the world that its members do not consent to the “destruction of the government and our economy for the benefit of Trump and his billionaire allies.”
Hands Off and Snohomish County Indivisible stressed that these gatherings are non-violent in nature, which is a core value of the movement, and encouraged proper de-escalation tactics if conflicts arise. There were no incidents of property damage or violence reported at last Saturday’s protest.
Author: Kienan Briscoe
