Demonstrators in Bowling Green target Trump, Musk

Published 2:50 pm Wednesday, February 5, 2025

By Jack Dobbs

Around 50 people gathered in front of the William H. Natcher Federal Building in Bowling Green on a rainy Tuesday morning to protest against recent moves to rework the federal government by the Trump administration and Trump adviser Elon Musk.

The protest was organized by the local group SOKY Indivisible. One demonstrator, Teresa Christmas, said she came out to protest Musk’s effort to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development and his involvement in the U.S. Treasury Department.

“Democrats and Republicans are wondering if they’re going to get their Social Security checks,” Christmas said. “We don’t know, because nobody has ever done that before.”

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Musk has been dismantling USAID, which is charged with delivering humanitarian assistance overseas. Musk, who donated heavily to the Trump campaign, is listed as an “adviser” to the president.

“Spent the weekend feeding USAID into the wood chipper,” Musk recently boasted on X.

Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has also gained a presence in the Treasury.

Concerns were raised over DOGE’s access to financial records at the Treasury.

Christmas said during the protest she is concerned about the legality of Musk’s moves.

“The person that did that is not the president,” she said. “If I had done that, I’d be arrested.”

Demonstrators arrived at the building at 9 a.m., some carrying signs reading “nobody elected the MuskRat,” “billionaires are attacking the rest of us” and calling the current situation a “coup.”

Others carried signs showing opposition to the government’s deportation efforts and another stated “stop Project 2025.”

One demonstrator carried an altered American flag, hung upside down on a pole with its stars in the shape of a peace sign.

Members of the group also spoke with aides to U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, who were inside the federal building. Two demonstrators went inside and spoke with aides.

SOKY Indivisible is also hoping to secure an appointment with McConnell to urge a “no” vote on several cabinet nominees, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Tulsi Gabbard and Kash Patel.

Cathy Severns, SOKY Indivisible’s leader, spoke on these nominees with the Daily News.

“They’re unqualified candidates, and would not even be considered by another administration,” she said. “We’re here to ask that Congress take their responsibility.

“A president, or Elon Musk, or anybody else can’t just go in and take over programs that have been passed into law,” Severns said. “We’re asking our Congress members to do their oversight job.”

Jack covers city government for the Daily News. Originally from Simpson County, he attended Western Kentucky University and graduated in 2022 with a degree in journalism.

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