Hundreds attend local ‘Hands Off’ protest

Published 9:19 am Sunday, April 6, 2025

By David Horowitz

BY DAVID MAMARIL HOROWITZ

david.horowitz@bgdailynews.com

 

As the Trump administration downsizes the Social Security Administration, Mary Kelley, 71, worries she may, down the road, lose Social Security payments. As it halves staffing and suspends grants at the U.S. Education Department, Tina Garton, a substitute teacher, fears students will lose access to needed supports. As it slashes grants at the National Institutes of Health, Madeline Wildman advocates for her NIH-funded research on suicide in adolescents and young adults.

Following regional flooding — and as the threat of additional severe storms loomed — the three demonstrated beside some 300 protesters Saturday along Circus Square Park sidewalks. The rally snaked along College Street across from the Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center, up toward East Seventh Avenue, and then left all the way to State Street through midday rain.

“… I know they’re concerned — they’re upset enough to be out here in the bad weather,” event organizer Cathy Severns said. “We had a lot of people that couldn’t make it due to flooding in their areas where they couldn’t get out, but I think it speaks to how strongly people feel against what’s happening — the dismantling of our government ….”

The regional SOKY Indivisible unit of the national Indivisible movement, which opposes President Donald Trump’s political agenda, organized the event as one of more than 1,300 “Hands Off!” protests nationwide Saturday.

Demonstrators chanted, sang and raised signs as drivers honked to their cheers, and they rallied for the Trump administration to keep its “hands off” numerous provisions, services and communities.

“I’ve never seen anything like this,” said Brian Collins, a protester who’s lived here since 1980.

Kelley fears U.S. citizens are losing freedoms, neighbors, allies, money and rights. She expressed concern about Trump likening himself to a king; the effects tariffs have on livelihoods; education; and the dismantling of departments that serve people.

Kelley, who was in a wheelchair, added that while Social Security doesn’t appear affected yet, she’s worried about it.

“As a retired person more than being a disabled person, I’m just worried about living,” she said.

Garton, who teaches at Warren County Public Schools, advocated for students.

She worries funding cuts would prevent children from accessing needed services — among them, physical therapists, one-on-one aids, wheelchairs and other equipment for those with challenges walking. She also advocated for English as a Second Language students and newly arrived people.

“I see the wonderful (special education) teachers, I see the wonderful ESL teachers, I see the incredible dedication and their need for funding, their need for continued funding and continued aids,” she said. “I just can’t sit silent while potential cuts happen.”

Samara Smith, a former public school teacher, demonstrated out of concern for her grandchildren’s future.

“Being a former educator, I want them to be able to have access to libraries, books, public schools,” she said. “If they can’t access public education, my grandkids won’t have a future.”

Smith added that her father died of Parkinson’s disease, and her mother had cancer — and Smith pointed to the administration’s moves to cut research for both illnesses.

“We’ve got to speak up, or nothing will happen,” she said.

Wildman, whose research on suicide is conducted at Western Kentucky University, said that as a graduate student, she’s funded by an NIH grant that her mentor and project investigator holds.

“If we lose our grants, we all lose our funding, and therefore, could lose our positions in school or even some of our jobs,” she said. “Just understanding the complexity of suicide and potential risk factors could better help understand not only the population of those that are suicidal, but also give them proper treatment plans, as well.”

Venus, who lives with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and uses a wheelchair, protested against attacks and threats to the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Affordable Care Act and federal healthcare programs as well as veterans’ rights. As recently as March, the administration rescinded guidance that aimed to help businesses comply with ADA.

“I feel like I have to be here in order to show that I am still alive and I still exist,” Venus said. “I feel like just putting myself here makes myself a priority, and that other people can see that I’m doing that.”

Threats to ACA could also, down the road, impact Venus and their husband, who has type-1 diabetes and is Insulin-reliant, Venus said. Each gets a monthly stipend through the ACA.

“If we get our stipends taken away, then we basically won’t be able to afford health care at all unless we take money out of our rent,” Venus said. “Then, we wouldn’t be able to afford rent — we would have to choose between our health and our home.”

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