The thousands of Hands Off! rallies held across the US over the weekend included one in Manitowoc.
About 500 protesters from the city itself and around eastern Wisconsin gathered at Washington Park before marching to the Manitowoc County courthouse.
The citizens were protesting Donald Trump and Elon Musk and their policies while telling them it’s time to get their hands off of essential services that they said were being gutted.
Protesters chanted about things like their Social Security, freedom, and education. SeehaferNews.com spoke with Tom, one of the protesters who said the people of Wisconsin have woken up.
He stated, “It’s time to not just think about, hopefully, things are going to be better, we have to get out here and voice our opinions and be heard.”
The protest was organized by a group that’s only been around for the last three weeks called Progressive Lakeshore People.
Founder Jill Iverson explained that she saw what’s been happening since Trump took office and couldn’t sit around on her couch doing nothing.
“There’s been a power grab by Trump and the Republicans,” she explained. “It doesn’t belong to them. They’ve taken things that don’t belong to them, and they belong to us, to the people. I’m a veteran. I’ve worked by whole life. My Social Security belongs to me. My healthcare belongs to me. And my whole way of life has changed.”
While she says more has to be done, the Wisconsin Supreme Court race was a huge shift in the state.
“I think Elon learned a little something too, that Wisconsin is not for sale. Our courts were not for sale,” Jill said. “I think he learned a little something didn’t he? And I think the Republicans learned something and I think President Trump learned something.”
Progressive Lakeshore People are planning to do more protests in the future.
They were helped by the Manitowoc County Democratic Party, which hosted a protest near Crawford Avenue last month.
A second one was held by the Dems a week ago.
There were no counterprotesters at Manitowoc’s event.
There were about 35 other Hands Off! rallies held across Wisconsin on Saturday while thousands of others were held across the country.
