On Saturday, April 5, people gathered in cities and towns across the country for the HandsOff! 2025 national day of action. In South Hadley, town residents and others from nearby communities lined Route 116 north and south of the Town Commons for a morning standout. An enthusiastic crowd of several hundred people expressed deep concern about the wide range of threats posed by the actions of the Trump administration and unelected ally Elon Musk, a sentiment echoed by honking drivers as they passed by.
While the event had a serious purpose, it was wonderful to gather in community with so many caring
fellow citizens. The signs were a wonderful mix of funny, creative,
insightful, compelling and in-your-face. One senior held a sign from her walker that said, simply, "NO."
The nearby communities of Granby, Easthampton, Haydenville, Amherst, and Northampton had events planned later in the day, which some participants also hoped to attend.
Representative Richard Neal (1st District of Massachusetts) visited the South Hadley standout to show solidarity, noting that the proposed GOP tax cut "to wealthy people" is "being used as a disguise to cut Medicaid" as well as "to challenge Medicare, to cut Social Security offices and veterans benefits," which are "are earned benefits."
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