Isa Cruz

As people gathered all around the country in protest of President Donald Trump’s administration, over 1,200 people rallied in Brunswick on Saturday to show their solidarity. The national “Hands Off!” demonstrations brought attention to nationwide opposition to the administration’s actions across a range of issues, including cuts to federal programs, executive orders, tariffs and violations of constitutional law.

Professor of Government and Asian Studies Henry Laurence noted that signage at the protest criticized the Trump administration for its attacks on education, science and climate change research, immigration rights and the LBGTQ+ community, as well as the unconstitutional avenues in which these attacks have been made.

“The ‘Hands Off’ message was [saying] hands off so many different things that you couldn’t sum up just one of the reasons people went there because there were obviously dozens, if not hundreds,” Laurence said. “I think everyone went with the determination to protect America from a regime that we see as attacking not only Americans individually but also the institutions that make us great.”

Laurence said that the Brunswick protest was by far the largest demonstration he has witnessed in his 30 years of living in the town, commenting on how it brought the community together to express collective grievances in an unprecedented way.

“I don’t think anyone was expecting as many people as who showed up…. I think a lot of people were prepared to show up if it was just them and three people on the side of the road, and I think we were all amazed,” Laurence said. “The feelings that we had were being shared by, it turns out, millions and millions of our fellow citizens.”

Laurence explained that the protest was also unprecedented in how it came about, as limited signage and advertising went into the event. Laurence described the turnout for this “grassroots” organizing to be extremely gratifying.

Henry Stack ’27 learned about the protest from his grandparents, who attended the protests in another part of the country, but felt most drawn to demonstrate because of the recent detainment of Tufts University student Rümeysa Öztürk and growing concern over the administration’s disregard for constitutional law.

“It was cool to feel like I was part of this national thing that’s happening in every state…. Both my grandparents were protesting, which was cute, and it was a nice way of feeling some intergenerational collaboration,” Stack said.

Stack also expressed admiration for the turnout in Brunswick and the support for the movement throughout Maine.

“There was a nice sense of group pride and identity among these people from Maine that were ready and willing to fight back and push back,” Stack said.

Elias McEaneney ’27 was similarly inspired by the breadth of the community interactions he experienced as the town gathered in support of a host of issues.

“We’re finally seeing a very loud public proof that we’re all under attack in different ways and that we can all stand hand in hand with one another. And I think it was that openness to really network and communicate that was the most inspiring to me,” McEaneney said.

From families with children to Bowdoin students and professors to elderly residents, McEaneney described the beauty of people from all parts of the community coming together to share their perspectives, and in the case of elderly individuals, their wisdom from decades of lived experience.

“I think really showing up and making a vocal stand with the rest of the community outside of the Bowdoin community is really important to show that there are people across generations, across interests, that really do care, that all have a personal stake in, a community stake in, this,” McEaneney said. “We have to learn from someone before us, and to see these people so passionate that this is a lifelong battle they’re willing to fight, that they love to fight most of the time, is so awe inspiring.”

Finn Torres ’25 explained how he was persuaded to speak at the event by his Brunswick host parents who attended the protest and wanted to give a platform to Bowdoin students at the event. Reflecting on Saturday, Torres emphasized that while protesting may feel insignificant in Brunswick, the act of finding a community and gathering support during politically tumultuous times is valuable in itself.

“Protest wherever you can because showing up is finding other people, and it reminds you that you’re not alone. You’re not going insane. The things that you’re feeling are not isolated and lots of people are upset,” Torres said. “I think it’s an important part of connecting with the people who are living in the place that you’re going to be spending as much as the next four years of your life.”

Laurence shared his hopes for what this protest may result in at the level of local and state government.

“I hope it will encourage politicians who were on the fence about whether they should do the right thing or not, such as Susan Collins. Maybe this will persuade some people that there’s a whole lot of Americans and Mainers and her voters who think that she should be doing more to stop the destruction that’s going on,” Laurence said.

McEaneney expressed gratitude for Maine’s efforts to fight back against the Trump administration, both at the community level and through the work of Governor Janet Mills, and hopes that Maine continues to take the stage in fighting against political injustice.

“This will be something I think Maine will be able to hold very proudly in its history later, and I hope to hear more from Maine in the history books,” McEaneney said.