Thousands gather for Hands Off! protests in Edmonds

by Misha Carter Posted: April 5, 2025 840
Francoise Feliberti said she wants “Hands Off” issues like education and retirement. (Photos by Misha Carter except where noted)

Edmonds was among many cities across the U.S. that held Hands Off! protests Saturday afternoon, giving participants a chance to express concerns about federal public service cuts, mass layoffs and other policies that they believe are negatively impacting the economy and government.

More than 2,000 people attended the Edmonds protest at Edmonds Civic Center Park, which was emceed by European travel guide, activist and Edmonds resident Rick Steves.

A bird’s eye view as the crowd gathers at Civic Park. (Photo by Alan Hardwick)
L-R: Organizers Roxie Harte, Laurel Erlich and Kate Wells coordinated the Edmonds Hands Off! event in three days.

The organizers of Hands Off! Edmonds — Roxie Harte, Kate Wells and Laurel Erlich — had three days to coordinate the event. They sought assistance from Steves, who was in Istanbul at the time.

Undaunted that Steves was thousands of miles aways, Harte said she contacted his office and asked, “When will he be back?”

Steves joked that he traveled directly from Istanbul to Edmonds. He thanked Harte, Wells and Erlich, and then jumped on a table to explain the reason for the Hands Off! protests.

Rick Steves arrived from Istanbul the night before to attend the Edmonds event Saturday.

“This is not America bashing.” Steves said. “We don’t gather as Democrats or Republicans, this is more fundamental than that – we gather as patriots.”

Steves said that democracy is on the line worldwide, and his experiences in Istanbul reflect that reality. “I was just in Istanbul yesterday and there are millions of people just like you, with banners like these because they have a president much like ours,” he said.

“If we want to make America truly great, the ideal is for our president to keep hands off things we care about – public wealth, Canada, our LGBTQ community, civil liberties, stewardship of our environment, democracy and institutions,” Steves said

After Steves’ speech, protesters peacefully marched from the park to the Edmonds waterfront, carrying signs and cheering when passing cars honked in agreement.

Participants walked from Civic Park to Brackett’s Landing. (Photo by Julia Wiese)
A demonstrator holds an American flag at Brackett’s Landing. (Photo by Ron LaRue)

CNN reported that Hands Off! rallies were held Saturday in all 50 states and globally in cities like London and Paris, with three demands – an end to the billionaire takeover and rampant corruption of the Trump administration; an end to slashing federal funds for Medicaid, Social Security and other programs people rely on; and an end to the attacks on immigrants, trans people and other communities.

At the same time Saturday afternoon, an estimated 3,000 people gathered at the intersection of North 205th Street and Highway 99, at the Edmonds/Shoreline border for another Hands Off! event. Later in the day, a smaller group waved signs along the sidewalk at Edmonds Way and 100th Avenue West.

Another demonstration at the Edmonds/Shoreline border on Highway 99 and North 205th Street. (Photo by Larry Vogel)

  1. The count by the 20 or so safety monitors was 3000 (not 1000). The sidewalks were filled on both sides from 200th north to the bridge past 205th. Lots of signs, honking, and cheers!

    1. The aerial shot of the Edmonds rally had to be taken before the rally started. By the end of rally, people were thick, and extended 30’ into the grass, mostly out of view to the left.

      Nice photos!

      1. YES, It’s sad that they didn’t post a picture of all the people gathered. This photo was taken about 30 minutes before the event started. I could tell by the people who were standing near me. They had moved by the start of the rally.

        Thank you to all the organizers of the rally.. It was heartening.

        1. and 10’s of thousands ignored the gathering – our President is working to fix the disaster of the Biden era ! Yes, elections have consequences !

    2. Thank you Monica! My husband and I live in Edmonds, joined the Hands Off Rally in Seattle where thousands protested….moving forward we will attend any rallies held in Edmonds!

  2. We were there and so proud of Edmonds and surrounding areas (I’m from Lake Forest Park) for joining in to support democracy! Only through a show of numbers can we hope to gain attention and reaction against what Trump and his gang are doing. Maybe when corporations fear they’ll lose significant profits by following Trump they’ll urge Republican electeds to turn away from him and Project 2025!!

    1. On Tuesday, 3 of us got together to figure out if we could, on short notice, organize a Hands Off event in downtown Edmonds by April 5th. We had no idea what to expect. Thanks to Amy Duncan ( Rick’s communication director) and the great leadership of Rick Steves, it all came seamlessly together.
      Yesterday, I was often asked what organization I was part of and my response was simple- I am simply a voting, concerned, citizen of the United States.
      A big thank you to so many concerned and frustrated citizens who joined in the April 5th worldwide event. So many great signs!
      This won’t be the last time we do this. Get involved! Volunteer! Be a voice!

  3. Thank you to all the people who worked so hard to pull these 3 protests off. Unfortunately we need to protest more frequently to let this administration know we mean business.

  4. Our family was represented at two of the three protests in the Edmonds vicinity. It was a kaleidoscope of colors, signs, and many thousands of diverse (yes, I dare use that word) people who protested peacefully against the raping and pillaging, so to speak, of our country by this administration. Just the beginning. RESIST.

  5. Thank you to each and every one who marched yesterday. My Dad fought at Casino against German soldiers, and scars wrapped his chest and back. What are we willing to do to fight fascism on our own soil? We must resist, educate and vote!

  6. I was sad and disappointed with the signs and the foul chants..you were walking with children. You are better people l think than to spew those kind of words. People you are above that or should be. Don’t fill the air with those words. Your children and Edmonds deserve better. You always have said hate isn’t part of your party. What l saw yesterday disproves that.

  7. The Trump administration is doing a phenomenal job. It’s so great to see some success on the horizon for the country. If the progressives don’t like it then get a plane ticket. The last administration was so bad they literally all needed pardons. Imagine having to pardon everyone for multiple crimes.

      1. I’m not sure what is was you heard or saw yesterday as I was there? Not a bad word was used. Peaceful and patriotic. Thousands of protests yesterday all of us peacefully marching, gathering, and practicing our constitutional rights. Nothing wrong with that my dear. Next time join in!

    3. Really I can’t stop laughing at this ridiculous claim…Trump is a convicted felon trying to destroy this country and turn it into an oligarchy. And get over it yourself Matt…the progressives are loud, proud, peaceful and here to defend our democracy. Unless Trump takes away out 1st Amendment rights we aren’t going anywhere. Maybe you should be the one to get a plane ticket.

  8. The key will be making the two white male Congressmen, east of the Cascades more afraid of losing in the general election than being challenged in the primary by a hard right Trump supporter. They will either start voting against Trump excesses or they risk defeat in 2026. Voters will also need to mobilize in southern Washington to keep that seat blue. It only takes a dozen or so moderate Republicans in the House to help Democrats put the brakes on Trump. So everyone who was out protesting, keep it up. There are numerous protests around the area, try and attend one every week or two until November 2026.

  9. Most of these people aren’t from Edmonds. They get hired off of Craigslist for 20/30hr. Most of these signs are professionally made and supplied to these paid “activists”. When interviewed many don’t even know what they are protesting.

    1. I think many of us would like to see some evidence of your assertions, Mr. Gardner. Could you furnish a copy of the Craig’s list advertisements? An authenticated sign that was manufactured and handed to your “paid activists”? Perhaps a video of an interview of a paid attendee who cannot articulate why he or she is attending the rally?

      I suspect your assertions are specious. I have certainly heard your talking points regurgitated by FOX News and their ilk for many years, but I’m willing to give you the benefit of the doubt as long as you can back up your claims with something more substantial than innuendo and invective.

      I’ll wait.

      1. Ed it’s all over social media trending this morning. And let’s no pretend that wealthy progressives don’t fund these “protests” This isn’t a secret.

        1. The Edmonds Hands Off was started by 3 local women. The only expense was the $50 I personally spent to print up some signs for those who wanted one.
          Not sure where you came up with that. No one was paid, we all volunteered our time to help our country

        2. So, in other words, your response to my question of “can you provide any evidence to back your claims” is no.

    2. This it the type of lie that those in power want their loyal MAGA foot soldiers to repeat. Matt Gardner probably believes what he’s saying, despite (most likely) not going to the demonstration and his inability to point to any factual evidence. I was there, and it sure seemed like pretty much all locals, lots of seniors, and everyone was enthusiastic and in good spirits.

    4. Really? 90 percent of the signs I saw were obviously homemade. And were carried by people of all ages (tilting towards the over 50s age group). I challenge folks to come up with people at the Edmonds event who were paid. Many including me took off work to participate. we did inest some money: My family spent 3 bucks at the dollar store for poster board and used leftover house paint for signs. (In our case, “Greenland is not for sale,”, ” I heart due process,” and “THIS lawyer can’t be bought.”) I understand that some disagree with the messages but there is no evidence of paid protesters in Edmonds.

    5. How FOXy of you to make these comments, obviously supported by all your time on the same channel.

  10. I was at the Civic Center rally. The daily dose of democracy destroying events has left me feeling hopeless. Standing in a crowd of thousands of people, all there to protest the destruction of what makes America great, I felt hopeful. Hopeful we can stop the further destruction of the American way of life. Hopeful that it hasn’t gone too far already. And hopeful, together, we have a democratic future.

  12. I’m thankful to the organizers and all who helped at the “Hands Off” rally. I was pleased to participate and will continue to stand up for rights for all and stand against plutocracy and fascism. It’d be good to see the U.S. congress doing the same, on Capital Hill and in the streets of D.C.

  13. Rick Steves speech was inspiring. His world view and comparisons to other autocratic countries such as Turkey should give people plenty to think about. I would highly recommend reading the Wikipedia entry for “Project 2025”. Elements of these governmental changes are taking place faster than people realize, and will be difficult, if not impossible to reverse.
    Thank-you Rick!

  14. My daughter and I were at the Shoreline protest. I was much encouraged by the turn out. It is unfortunate that we had to do this, but perhaps we can end this madness. I was particularly interested in protesting the attack on reality in regard to climate change. Reality is non-negotiable! RESIST!!!

  15. My friends and I attended Hands Off in Edmonds yesterday, what a turn out! Extra thanks to the organizers and to Rick Steves who delivered a patriotic and inspirational message to us all after making a special trip home for Istanbul just for this March.
    Like all of us, we are exhausted, even so, we limped out and did all we felt that we could to fight for the rights of our all our people, here and abroad. Most agree that we need some fundamental fine tuning and oversight to our huge budget deficit however there’s a difference between cleaning our home and burning it down! Peace out!

    1. Sorry we missed it! We live in Edmonds, but we were in Seattle on Sat…joined the Hands Rally….Wow! Next time will join Edmonds Rally for sure!

  16. Many people, myself included thought Rick Steves gave a great speech

    Are there any recordings available???

  17. I believe you can find a recording on FB, My Edmonds Neighbors. Mcguinness Mark posted a YouTube video

  18. I believe the current chaos and disruption in our government isn’t solving the challenges we face at home or abroad. Thank you to the organizers of Hands Off – it was inspiring to see American democracy in action.

  19. I’m very proud of our city for the turnout to save our country. The “phenomenal job” the current administration is doing is leading to the worst economy in 100 years, ruining our longstanding relationships with other countries, and destroying the founding covenant to give our citizens life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The unwillingness or inability of some to see this happening is frankly stunning. Those of us who are standing up are not the far left, we are the true American patriots, who still believe in the dream of this nation. Say Hands Off to the oligarchs, to the criminals, and the facists.

  20. We either live in a nation of laws with no man or woman being above the law, or we don’t. Right now we have a President who has repeatedly claimed to be above the law and that Presidents (as long as they are Republicans in claimed political ideology and not either Black or Female) are not bound by the rules that apply to anyone and everyone else in the country. In the 70’s Nixon tried this and his own Republican Party did not buy it and probably saved Democracy at that time. They didn’t like it but they honored the Constitution as written and did their sworn duty. This time around Trump has all his Republican Party loyalists so scared of losing their power and influence that they are literally allowing him to function as a one man rule Dictator pushing his power to the limits of what people will accept. There is a long history in this country of free speech, freedom of assembly, and innocent until proven guilty. That’s what these protests are all about and Rick Steves is a patriot and a hero in my book. I’m lucky as he is also my neighbor. I don’t always agree with his politics which are further to the Left than mine but this isn’t about politics at all. It’s about right and wrong.

  21. These same people didn’t get to vote in a primary because their party decided No Vote. Then their corporate candidate with double the funding lost. Then their party had to pardon everyone for years of corruption. All facts. Now they want to pay 20/30 an hour to shlubs to disrupt our communities. Sad state of affairs.

    1. Notice how Matt can’t point to any legitimate sources for the lies he keeps repeating. Sad. Repeating lies doesn’t make them true. Those on the ground yesterday know it was their fellow neighbors, not paid protesters.

    2. I am getting more than tired over the “only people who are paid attend these protests” and “they bus protesters in” garbage!
      Give us some actual data! Don’t have any? I thought so!

  22. Matt, could you please send more specific information on who you know is paying people 20/30 an hour to disrupt our communities and how I might contact them to get in on some of that “gravy.” I’ve heard Musk was paying people $1M to vote for a Trump approved state Supreme Court Judge Justice somewhere so I guess I can understand how a grown man might believe this is happening. Come on man, you are just too smart to believe stuff like this. If you love Trump and think he’s doing great stuff, time will tell if you are right or not but, please, if you know things we don’t about these demonstrations that are going on in ever larger numbers all over the country, please fill us in on it or stop repeating rumors you hear.

  23. Matt, you’re just spouting gibberish. Come up with a valid argument, please.

  24. Thank you to Roxie Harte, Kate Wells, Laurel Erlich and Rick Steves and his staff for pulling this incredible event off in record time. I was proud to attend and very encouraged by the enormous crowd and common cause. I’d like to suggest that we follow up with information about how and where to direct our energy next…I know the League of Women Voters organizes voter registration drives. There’s a MoveOn.org organization that is scheduling events and signature gathering. What other avenues are there for us to get involved? Maybe My Edmonds News, Lynnwood Today and MLT News can do a feature about ways to get involved and hold this administration accountable.

    1. I agree, Maggie! Next steps are good to focus on. I’ve started using 5calls.org for support in contacting our elected representatives. Another group I’d add to your list is the SnoCo chapter of Indivisible.

      It was deeply empowering to march alongside so many peaceful, respectful neighbors (Only saw one guy regularly impeding traffic, and making claims about being “friends with the organizers” when another protestor respectfully approached him to suggest he join the rest of us on the sidewalk)… I know disruption can be a powerful tool of protest, but I appreciate the thousands in Edmonds who seemed willing to show our numbers without making traffic a total nightmare.

      I needed that sunshine and that sense of community to remind me how important it is to exercise our right to defend our democracy – I loved feeling connected with the numerous people who were doing the same in their locales.

      My heartfelt gratitude to the organizers and all the neighbors out there in support – I especially appreciated the two cars who were call-and-response honking “this is what democracy looks like” 🙂

  25. How about those University of Houston Cougars. What a comeback over Duke last night.

  26. We were pleased to be part of this uplifting event in downtown Edmonds. Together we are sending a message, but unfortunately the people who need to hear it are not listening. At least not yet. We need to continue to stand up for the Rule Of Law and the Constitution. Democracy~ use it or lose it!

    I got some laughs at the people on this string who apparently believe folks were paid to be there, recruited off of Craigslist. If that were true, then a few folks from MAGAworld would have signed up to prove the point. But of course that didn’t happen. This was a true grassroots groundswell, just as advertised.

  27. So there was an old white rich guy leading the charge, lol. How do you not see it?

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