Hundreds of Villagers and area residents joined the Hands Off nationwide anti-Trump/Musk protest Saturday afternoon in The Villages.
Paula Orlando of the Facebook group Villagers for Democracy was the principal organizer of the event. She signed up with the national Hands Off group to help structure the protest. When her fellow member of Villagers for Democracy, Casey Marr, contacted Villages-News.com and a preview story was published regarding the event, the number of registrants “exploded.” Orlando asked the national group to cap the number at 500 and was astounded when the protest far surpassed that number.
Protesters filled the shoulder of Old Camp Road, southbound Morse Boulevard to the Stillwater Trail roundabout and several hundred additional feet down Stillwater Trail. Many of the protesters waved anti-Elon Musk signs as well as signs urging Congress to do its job and save democracy. Many of the protesters said that they were lifelong Republicans but were fed up with the Trump administration’s attacks on federal programs.
Air Force veteran Morgan Moore, who is a snowbird from Ohio, said he was a lifelong Republican but he couldn’t vote for either Trump or Clinton in 2016 as he felt Clinton was “dishonest” and Trump was “too thin skinned.” Moore said he was fairly happy with Trump’s first two weeks in 2016, but quickly became disappointed. He said he is no longer a Republican as he brandished a sign, declaring he was an ex member of “the gutless party.”
Liz Russ who has lived in Fruitland Park for decades said she is really concerned about Trump’s tariffs as she is living on Social Security and her savings, which have lost substantial value due to Trump’s recent tariffs.
The Texas native is also concerned about the impact of the tariffs on inflation.
Several Villagers with connections to Canada were at the protest and expressed dismay at Trump’s attacks on Canada. Suzan Smith, of the Village of Gilchrist, said her mother was from Quebec. Smith was at the protest because of Trump’s tariffs and the actions of Elon Musk.
“This is somewhat out of my comfort zone, but I’m here,” she said
She held a sign which was labeled “Know Your Parasites” with the pictures of Elon Musk and two other billionaires and the caption “economic parasites, remove with wealth tax, immediate intervention is crucial.”
The overwhelming number of motorists who traveled through the protest area honked their horns and waved to the protesters with their thumbs up. A small number of Trump supporters were on the cart path near the entrance to the former Winn-Dixie parking lot. They held their pro-Trump signs and were ignored by the crowd.