Protesters ask for "Hands Off"

Nearly 100 people skirted Dewar Drive in Rock Springs Saturday, taking part in one of the numerous "Hands Off" protests that took place around not only Wyoming but across the nation. The protests, according to the Wyoming Democratic Party, were to raise awareness and let the Trump administration and DOGE know that citizens want the government's "Hands Off" things like Medicaid/Medicare, Social Security, personal data, public lands, veteran services, consumer protections, schools, libraries, free speech, LGBTQ+ peoples and immigrants, to name a few.

In total, 10 protests took place in Wyoming, and over 1,400 events were planned in all 50 states. Some estimates put nationwide participation around 5.2 million people.

Rock Springs Resident Megan Jensen, who was at the local protest, expressed pride for her involvement and discussed her concerns.

"I'm just proud to be here, supporting people who might be scared, are frustrated, and I think they have a right to be," she said. "I think we're all working class at the end of the day, especially here in Wyoming. There's a lot of things that have been happening for a long time and everything's a working-class issue."

Jensen also spoke about issues that have directly affected and continue to affect her and her family.

"For me, it's schools at the end of the day," she said. "I'm a parent, right? And when they take so much from schools, they're taking from my kids. When my kids don't have a safe place to go, then I can't work, so they're taking money from me, and that means they are taking from my kids too, literally food from my kids' mouth. My father's a vet and if you look around, there's a lot of people like my dad here too, so I'm just standing in solidarity with them."

Event Organizer Julie Smith said that the demonstration was planned by the 50501Wyoming group.

"50501 Wyoming is a bipartisan group made up of both Republicans and Democrats, and it is the Wyoming faction of the national 50501 Movement," she explained. "Fifty fifty-one stands for 50 States, 50 Protests, One Movement. I know that there are a lot of people out there saying that this is the Democrats that are holding these demonstrations, but in fact, the person who started the 50501 Wyoming group is a registered Republican. There are a lot of things that have been happening in the state of Wyoming that have many Republicans worried, as well as Democrats, and Independents."

Jensen also echoed that not all of the participants were Democrats.

"I would say that at least a quarter or more of the participants here today are not registered Democrats," she said. "A few have told me they're registered Independent. Many have said that they are registered Republicans who tend to vote more liberally at times."

A large number of the participants were in an age demographic of 50-plus, and there were several notable local individuals in attendance, including Chair of the Wyoming Democratic Party Joe Barbuto, who spoke at different times during the event.

Kenny Starling McCormack, the owner of the Starling Company and lead vocalist for the band Atlas Falls, also attended the protest, accompanied by documentary filmmaker Allison Berg, who is based in New York but has filmed in Rock Springs. Wyoming Poet Laureate Barbara Smith also participated in the protest. Smith expressed her gratitude for the freedom to gather with others for a common purpose.

"I would like to think that, whether we agree or disagree, we can all respect each other's first amendment rights to peacefully assemble when there are things happening in this country that we do not agree with," she said. "Peace!"