Berkshire County — On Saturday, April 5, President Donald J. Trump spent his day playing golf at the Trump National Golf Club in Jupiter, Fla., and at his residence at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla., just a few days after he announced tariffs on U.S. trading partners on Wednesday, April 2.
As a direct result of these tariffs, the stock market continues to fall as of press time on Monday, April 7.
Meanwhile, Berkshire County continues to reel after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) rounded up individuals throughout the area on March 19. In the ensuing weeks after the March 19 incidents, The Berkshire Edge has tried to interview family members of those arrested by ICE; however, ICE has not yet released the full identities of those arrested.
In protest of the actions of the Trump administration, the national organization Indivisible organized Hands Off! protest rallies throughout the United States on Saturday, April 5.
According to the event’s website:
This is a nationwide mobilization to stop the most brazen power grab in modern history. Trump, Musk, and their billionaire cronies are orchestrating an all-out assault on our government, our economy, and our basic rights—enabled by Congress every step of the way.
They want to strip America for parts—shuttering Social Security offices, firing essential workers, eliminating consumer protections, and gutting Medicaid—all to bankroll their billionaire tax scam. They’re handing over our tax dollars, our public services, and our democracy to the ultra-rich.
If we don’t fight now, there won’t be anything left to save.
One of the Hands Off! protests took place in Park Square in Pittsfield. Organizers of the Park Square event initially predicted that 200 people would attend. However, despite the rain, residents turned out in droves, far exceeding that prediction, with hundreds of people gathering in Park Square, many of them holding protest signs all around the park itself.
One of the co-organizers of the Park Square event was Robin O’Herin, a musician from Lee. “I hope this event inspires and energizes people to take action,” O’Herin told The Berkshire Edge. “I think people are feeling very depressed and scared, and action is the antidote to that. The presidential administration is destroying our country. They are stepping on the Constitution and ignoring our First Amendment rights.”
“We are here today to stand up to the tyranny that’s going on in our country right now,” said Pittsfield resident and event co-organizer Jessica Hayn. “Mobilization is motivation. I believe U.S. Sen. Cory Booker was very motivational this past week [during his 25-hour speech in the U.S. Senate], and it put a fire under all of our butts. We hope that people will get inspiration and motivation out of these Hands Off! events. If our leaders aren’t going to stand up for us, we need to mobilize and make things happen.”
Pittsfield resident Sonya Bykofsky, who emceed the Park Square event, said that anyone can be an activist, even from the comfort of your home. “You can do things like use your power as a consumer to boycott companies,” Bykofsky said. “Consumers can use their powers to support companies that are in line with your values. People can also vote, but I do understand that a lot of our population does not vote, and I understand that they need to be inspired by people who have the same issues, beliefs, and values. But people need to get involved in holding their representatives accountable for how they are representing you. I hope that, after this event, people will be able to build communities and use that community as a support system for their values. You really need community and you need other people, because it’s very easy to fall into the throes of depression and stay there. But you really need to connect with other people.”
A separate Hands Off! rally was held in Great Barrington. Read about the Great Barrington rally here.
