Paula Porter/For the Gazette Protesters marched on the Portage Lift Bridge following the Hands Off rally at Houghton's Bridgeview Park. The local rally was one of five in the U,P. and more than 1,400 across the United States.

HOUGHTON — A large group of people gathered in Houghton Saturday, joining millions nation-wide that took part in protests against President Donald Trump and Elon Musk. CNN reported that more than 1,400 “Hands Off” mass-action protests were held in all 50 states. Locally, more than 300 people, who pre-registered, met up for the Copper Country protest. The group began to gather at Bridgeview Park in downtown Houghton on a chilly, sunny Saturday morning for the protest that ran from noon to 2 p.m.

The group echoed the national “Hands Off!” theme and was one of at least five rallies help in the Upper Peninsula. The local effort was a small part of nationwide mobilizations at every State Capital, congressional offices, parks, federal buildings, city halls and more.

The Houghton event featured several speakers, led off by Richard Caneba.

Bill Fink, a retired National Park Service Superintendent, said the local effort was organized by Keweenaw Indivisible, supported by the League of Voters of the Copper Country. Fink said “Hands Off is about keeping the current administration’s hands off Social Security, Medicare, and National Parks.” Fink added that the aim of the movement is to get the Trump Administration and Elon Musk to “keep hands off our immigrants.”

A major sponsor locally was Keweenaw Indivisible which is part of a National Organization aimed at giving citizens a voice to assemble freely and speak freely — to redress the government. “Raising awareness for what’s happening.”

Another participant, and military veteran, Vytantas Packauskas said “Freedom isn’t freedom unless we are all free.”

Nadija Packauskas, stated “Ukraine deserves an ally that stands by them! We are so happy to see world support and are confident that this administration will remember American values! Stand by our ally.”

Near the end of the rally a small envoy of Trump supporters displaying Trump signs drove by in trucks and cars. When they drove by the rally attendees chanted “Hands off! Hands off!” Afterwards, the rally continued briefly with another speaker presenting more perspectives on our current state of affairs.

One rally participant stated “I don’t think Donald Trump could have passed an economics course. He’s taking away our markets. Stuff coming from China production, textile work. Nobody wants. Our country is going to be a mess.”

The group wrapped up the rally for Keweenaw Indivisible to support the “Hands Off!” theme, by marching in solidarity across the Portage Lake lift bridge with some carrying U.S. flags and rally signs.