KENNEWICK – More than 1,500 people gathered along both sides of Columbia Center Drive on April 5th as part of a nationwide day of protest. The Kennewick event was one of at least 1,400 across the United States held in coordination with the Hands Off! day of action against President Trump’s policies and actions. Signs at the rally called attention to issues including Social Security, DOGE, racism, immigration rights, LBGTQIA+ issues, the stock market, and more.

Chigdem Capan has lived in Richland for 15 years. Originally from Türkiye, Chigdem lived in several countries before settling in the United States, where she is now a citizen. “I’m very worried about people being snatched by federal ICE people and sent to other countries without due process,” Capan said. She also said she was protesting because she was worried about Trump administration attacks on media and the lack of respect for judicial orders. “The rule of law is being ignored and that will not end well,” Capan said. She compared the issues she is concerned about in the United States with those in Türkiye. “Türkiye is not a democracy and I call this country home, I’m an American Citizen now precisely because I have so much respect for the separation of powers.”

Sophia Spinnie, 11, was in the crowd with her mom, dad, and siblings. “He’s racist and sexist and he’s very rude to any other person who isn’t his race,” she said of Trump. Her brother, Grant, also age 11, cited blossoming cooperation between China, South Korea, and Japan, three countries who have historically been at great odds, as indication of how Trump’s policies are isolating the USA from allies.

While most protestors were local residents, some were from out of town. Spencer S., 13, from West Linn, Oregon, was in town with family for his brother’s baseball tournament in Kennewick. He and his mother saw the protest and decided to take the opportunity to join in. Spencer said some of the top issues he was concerned with were interference with national parks, tariffs, and immigration rights.

While scores of vehicles passed while honking their horns in support, not every passerby was polite or like-minded. Several vehicles passed with occupants shouting racial epithets or other slurs. A number of diesel pickup trucks “rolled coal” while driving by, blowing toxic black smoke into the faces of those gathered on sidewalks.

Event flyers across the country stated, “whether you are mobilized by the attacks on our democracy, the slashing of jobs, the invasion of privacy, or the assault on our services – this moment is for you,” More than 600,000 people had signed up to participate, with events in every state. Organizers identified three objectives: “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 working people rely on; and an end to the attacks on immigrants, trans people, and other communities.”