Around 20 separate events are scheduled around the state for Saturday, from Burlington to Barton, according to organizers.
The events, separately organized but collectively called “Hands Off,” are the latest in a series of nationwide, decentralized efforts by activist groups to urge people to take to the streets to oppose Trump’s policies.
The organizations include established groups such as MoveOn and more recent web-based upstarts such as Indivisible and 50501. They’re joining forces and so far claim to have 1,000 protests planned across the nation.
“We’re mobilizing by the thousands because we’ve had enough,” Bekir Konakovi, an attorney and MoveOn volunteer said during an online training session Wednesday. “This is about sending a clear, peaceful but powerful message to Trump, Musk and their billionaire buddies that we are watching, and we won’t stand for their attacks on our communities.”
Geri Peterson is the lead organizer in Vermont for 50501, a group that works to hold 50 protests in every state on a single day. The chapter has held three events in the state this year, including the International Women’s Day event on March 8 in Montpelier.
“Hands Off is a coalition of different organizations and individuals who feel we need to gather together in common cause to tell the administration we reject what they are doing to this country,” Peterson told Seven Days. “They need to keep their hands off our civil rights, and they need to keep their hands off our reproductive rights.”
Peterson said registrations for the Montpelier event, which starts at noon on the Statehouse steps and will be followed by a downtown march, suggest 6,000 or more may attend. Another 1,000 have registered for the Brattleboro event, she said.
Anger toward Trump’s policies, from steep tariffs to attacks on workers’ rights to Elon Musk’s slashing of the federal workforce, are contributing to growing outrage and a recognition that mass protests are needed, she said.
“Recruit your friends and neighbors and let them know this is the time for everybody to come out and let the administration know that this isn’t OK,” Peterson said.
The protests are the latest sign that the left is starting to find its footing as it pushes back against Trump.
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) continues to spur progressives to action with a “Fight Oligarchy” tour that is smashing attendance records. A liberal was elected to the Wisconsin Supreme Court on Tuesday despite Elon Musk spending millions to defeat her. And Sen. Cory Booker (D-New Jersey) broke the record for the longest speech in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday after denouncing Trump’s initiatives for more than 25 hours.
On Thursday, Vermont Treasurer Mike Pieciak estimated the tariffs that just went into effect will cost Vermonters $1 billion annually.
“Vermonters are already facing an affordability crisis, and the administration just hit Americans with one of the largest tax increases in U.S. history,” said Pieciak, who plans to speak Saturday in Montpelier. “This will raise costs on families and local businesses and hurt the economy.”
Cindy Livingston, a music teacher from St. Albans City who is organizing an event there, said she’s been amazed at how quickly plans came together. Her local Indivisible group only formed two weeks ago but members are “fired up” and have 145 people registered to attend. People have “had time to get pissed off,” she said.
“This is our country. This isn’t Trump’s country, or Elon Musk’s country. This is our country, and we should stand up and defend it and take care of it,” she said.
Other prominent speakers Saturday will include former Gov. Madeleine Kunin, Lt. Gov. John Rodgers and U.S. Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), in Montpelier. U.S. Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.) will speak in Brattleboro and Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas will address the crowd in St. Albans.
Republican Gov. Phil Scott, who has tried to avoid openly criticizing Trump, declined an invitation to attend, Peterson said.
Rodgers is set to become the first elected Republican official in the country to speak at a 50501 rally, Peterson said.
If you’re heading to a rally, Seven Days is asking you to submit photos Saturday for publication. You can find our portal here: