OCEAN CITY — As part of a day of protests nationwide against President Donald Trump’s policies and drastic cuts led by Elon Musk in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), about 400 people formed a human ring on the sidewalks around Veterans Memorial Park on Saturday afternoon.
The Hands Off protests were held in other locations in Cape May and Atlantic counties, in cities across the country and at national parks. The protest in Ocean City had a mix of participants from the community, neighboring towns and other parts of South Jersey.
The protesters had a wide array of issues — cuts in science and research funding, fears about Social Security and Medicare, and the danger to democracy, among many others as evidenced by their comments and signs.
The peaceful protest was interrupted periodically by people shouting from passing cars and holding down their horns, with some MAGA supporters approaching to taunt the protesters.
An organizer said when they gathered for a group photo at the end of the two-hour rally, a young man showed up yelling at them, holding a Second Amendment flag and there was another with a gun in his belt, but the person with the gun turned out to be a plainclothes police officer.
“Nothing came of that moment but it was definitely unsettling, especially because of the ski mask and obvious gun — not something you see in O.C. every day,” the organizer told the Sentinel.
Lt. Dan Lancaster of the Ocean City Police Department Detective Bureau, said a counter-protester entered the park and tried to agitate the crowd during the group photo.
“Several plainclothes detectives were in the area, immediately responded, and separated the counter-protester from the crowd to avoid any physical altercation(s),” Lancaster said. “The counter-protester left the area after the police intervention. The plainclothes detectives identified themselves as they arrived in the crowd, however were initially mistaken for additional counter-protesters.”
The detective added that other than the one counter-protester, “the protest was peaceful and no other incidents occurred. No one else, other than the police officers at the scene, were identified as being armed.”
The protesters talked about their reasons for attending the rally.
Asked what motivated her to attend, Kim O’Brien, president of the Somers Point Democratic Club, responded, “What doesn’t? Our Constitution, first and foremost.”
Pointing to the large turnout, O’Brien added, “It warms my heart. It gives me hope that people care, are coming up and they’re not tolerating the things that are going on right now. Just the complete ignoring of our laws. Clearly, we see a lot of seniors today. They’re worried about Social Security, as they should be.”
“You name the issue and there’s an injustice there, so I had to come,” said Sister Celeste of the Sisters of Saint Joseph. Her prime concerns include “watching how the policies that are being put in are going to hurt the poor, are unfair to immigrants, are unfair to the elderly.
“I’m also horrified that the administration is not going to honor sanctuary whether it’s cities or churches,” Sister Celeste said. “Our Latino immigrants are afraid of coming to church. They’re afraid of coming to school. Our sisters run a school in Camden and they’re afraid to come. Fear has no place in this country.”
“We need to do whatever we can to get rid of that Washington establishment that is killing us,” protester Reenie said. (Given some of the harassment at the event and fears about social media reprisals, most of the protesters asked that their last names not be published.)
“Losing all of our rights, the immigrants that are erroneously being deported, the economy, how (Trump) doesn’t give a (expletive) about anything and golfs all the time,” Tanya said. “The people that need us the most are losing the most between the poor, the women. We’re all losing our rights and he doesn’t care. We don’t want to live in an oligarchy.”
“I just don’t like our country being run by the one-percenters and I don’t like Trump’s policies,” said a protester carrying a “Fight Oligarchy” sign.
“See this,” a woman said about her fears, pointing at a little girl with her. “She wants to go to college. And my Social Security. They sent me an email telling me I had to go in because they did something to my Social Security account (online) and it won’t let me in.”
“Our concern is a lack of medical research. I have kids who are scientists who work in that. That’s a big concern of mine. Kennedy, he’s a mess and I think he’s going to kill us all,” her friend Karen added.
They noted relatives had lost research grants and fellow scientists lost jobs in the president’s cutbacks. “I’m also worried about our Social Security. I have my mother in a nursing home. She’d get kicked out without her veterans benefits. And what he’s doing to veterans is awful,” Karen said. “If you put my name in I’ll get blasted like I do on Facebook all the time.”
“Everything Trump does is wrong,” said Jim, standing on a corner with a sign as other protesters passed by. “I can’t stand him. He just bullies people. He bullies countries. That’s what these tariffs are about. Bullying other countries and getting them to conform to his way of thinking. I’m against the tariffs. Him and Musk are both union busters. They’re not for the working man,” Jim said.
“In general, Trump is trying to ruin our way of life,” said Michelle, with her own sign standing next to Jim. “He is a bully. He’s wanted to be president so he could stay out of jail. … We need to step up to protect our rights, our education, our libraries, our Social Security, our health care. I don’t want to lose my insurance. My mom is on Social Security. What is she going to do if she doesn’t get that? She’s 83. Is she going to go out and get a job? That’s what Republicans expect. That’s what Trump wants.”
Asked what her main concerns were, Luanne cited National Parks, Social Security, education “and it’s got to be the people who decide these things. Not one man or two billionaires.”
She was impressed with the local turnout. “It’s really cool going around the block and at the corners,” she said.
“Isolation will not make us great again,” another protester said. “Due process. That’s another one.”
“The disgusting nature that our country is going in right now,” Carrie said. Asked what concerns her most, she added, “I would have to say we’re worried about our money, but I’m worried about my children and my grandchildren.
Another protester said she came out because of “just about everything this administration is doing because they’re using our tax dollars to do illegal things.”
“There are not enough words to describe them all,” Joanna said of her worries. “Today it is the national scholars and students being taken off the street and deported, many of whom are in shock and should be here because they’re here legally.”
“Honestly it’s the blatant disregard for the rule of law at this point across the board,” Kim said.
“Women’s rights,” Mia added to the list of concerns. “Trans people being erased. American imperialism being the new normal. Disregard for so many veterans who have those federal jobs that have been cut. I could go on all day.”
“The demise of our democracy,” said their friend, Julia. “Everyone with their individual issues have to come together to stop the further demise of our democracy. It is unconstitutional, it is un-American what (Trump) has done to this country in three months’ time.”
Holding a sign that said “8647” — meaning to 86 or eject the 47th president — Daria said her worry is the “fact that he is ignoring our Constitution and he doesn’t give a damn about the United States. He cares about himself and his billionaires.”
“Our democracy is being ripped away from us by Musk, by Trump, by the whole Republican Party,” Wendy said. “We deserve so much better than this. If someone doesn’t stand up now, when are we ever going to stand up. Enough people aren’t paying attention.”
The signs protesters were carrying included many other topics. Among the signs were those reading: Hands Off NATO; Defend Freedom; Protect Medicaid; Hands Off Our Rights; Tariffs Are Taxes on All of Us; Hands Off SSA; Fire Musk; Hands Off Schools; Democracy Not A King, Grab Him by the Constitution; Fight Oligarchy; Hands Off My Library; We Need Our Scientists, National Parks, Medical Researchers, Social Security;
Hands Off My Choices, My Life, My Body, My Freedom; Orange Lies Matter; No to Nazi America; Liberation Day: The Day Trump’s Gone; Are We Great Yet Cause I Just Feel Embarrassed; Love Trumps Hate; Hands Off Our Constitution; Keep Your Tiny Hands Off My Rights; Hate Never Made America Great;
Dissent is the Highest Form of Patriotism; Know Your Parasites: Deer Tick, Dog Tick, Luna Tick; I’ve Seen Better Cabinets at IKEA; The Time Is Always Right to do What’s Right; and (with a Smokey Bear image) Only You Can Prevent Fascist Liars.”
By DAVID NAHAN/Cape May Star and Wave
