Chants of “no justice, no peace” and “show me what democracy looks like” echoed across Poplar Street on Saturday, April 5 as over 300 Middle Georgia residents gathered at Prince Park to join in on the “Hands Off!” movement happening across the country.
The nationwide mobilization aims to fight back against action by President Donald Trump through nonviolent action.
The peaceful Macon rally, organized by Macon Rising, a recently formed coalition focused on uniting the Macon community and supporting democracy, featured seven guest speakers including Macon-Bibb County Commissioner and Mayor Pro Tempore Seth Clark, Reverend Amanda Schuber and pastor Jake Hall.
For almost two hours, the rally organized by Macon Rising founders Abbie Aiello, Elizabeth Lott and Sheila “She” Keene had the crowd enthralled as speakers shared messages of unity, acceptance and standing up for people’s rights.
“We want our democracy to remain intact and we want our Constitution to be followed. And we believe that many of the things going on from the current administration is negatively impacting that,” said Keene. “Our call is to say hands off our Social Security, hands off our personal data, hands off our Medicare, our Medicaid, hands off our history.”
The rally in Macon is one of hundreds that sprung up across the country as Macon demonstrators protest tariffs, call for LGBTQ+ rights, express concern over Medicaid cuts and more.
Several members of the Macon crowd brandished homemade signs depicting penguins, in reference to the reciprocal tariffs Trump’s administration announced April 2.
“He put tariffs on utterly unpopulated islands, populated only by penguins, and inadvertently created a mascot for us,” said Craig Hamilton, a demonstrator with a penguin sign.
The islands in question include Heard Island and McDonald Islands, a territory of Australia near Antarctica.
Sandra Goodwin, an educator, says there are so many issues that it is hard to pick one to focus on.
“I’m 62 and I’m thinking about Social Security, that concerns me, lack of Medicaid, the tariffs, all of the anti-DEI,” she said.
“We all have a common goal, and that is the restoration and preservation of our government,” said Marcia Harshbarger, another demonstrator. Her sign called attention to the money Trump spends to play golf while in office.
The demonstration opened and closed with chants led by McKenzie Lawyer Davies, a volunteer with Macon Rising.
“It was so empowering to know that there are so many people in Macon that are concerned with what’s going on,” said Lawyer Davies. She says that she joined the demonstration in order to preserve constitutional democracy for her three children. “I’m concerned that our country is going to turn into something that I don’t recognize.”
This story was originally written for the Macon Telegraph on April 6, 2025.
