Hundreds of Merced residents gathered for a protest in Courthouse Park last Saturday as part of a nationwide “Hands Off!” effort to denounce the way President Donald Trump is running the country and what is being described as an “attack on American rights and freedoms.”
Merced’s version — “Hands Off! Merced Fights Back!” — drew 537 protesters, according to one local organizer who made a head count that was reported to the Times.
Meanwhile, more than 1,400 rallies were held across all 50 states and globally on Saturday with support from a coalition of liberal groups, including “Indivisible” and “50501.” The latter group — that operates under the slogan “50 protests. 50 States. 1 movement” — is planning another massive day of action on April 19 to protest what supporters call a “hostile government takeover” overseen by the Trump administration. Through social media, the group is urging 3.5 percent of the U.S. population — more than 11 million people — to participate. They cite this figure as the threshold for “sustained resistance in order to make a difference.”
In Merced on Saturday, residents gathered at Courthouse Park and lined both sides of M Street between Merced County Superior Court and MERCO Credit union. They waved signs and chanted for about two hours. They included UC Merced faculty members and students, local human rights advocates, retired professionals, and a few veterans in uniform. There were also members of the United Domestic Workers District 4 union, representing In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) workers. They said they were standing agains potential cuts to Medi-Cal.
One of the main groups involved locally is called “Indivisible Merced,” and some of the members have been holding smaller gatherings every week, on Fridays, from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., in the same Courthouse Park location along M Street.
Among the policies that have stirred up protests early in the Trump presidency include: drastic cuts made to government agencies by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the reversal of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) protections, and the targeting of immigrants for deportation. More recently, Trump has imposed global tariffs that have rocked financial markets with the most significant losses since the COVID pandemic.
All the local protests have been peaceful. The crowds on Saturday received car honks of support as they waved signs toward the nearby M Street traffic. One of the local rally-goers, Marc Medefind, told the Times the atmosphere was filled with enthusiasm and positivity.
He said he only received one negative gesture — a middle finger — from someone in a vehicle passing by.
