Hands Off Massachusetts! (Boston)

RALLY AND MARCH

SCHEDULE:

- 11:00 am: Meet at Parkman Bandstand

- 11:15 am: Kickoff speaker

- 11:25 am: March to City Hall Plaza

- 12:30 pm (approximate): Speakers at City Hall Plaza

CURRENT SPEAKERS INCLUDE:

• MC: Rev. Mariama White-Hammond - Founder, New Roots AME Church, Dorchester

• Senator Ed Markey - US Senator, Massachusetts

• Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll - Lieutenant Governor, Massachusetts

• Carol Rose - Executive Director, ACLU-MA

• Chastity Bowick - Co-Founder, Trans Resistance

• Chrissy Lynch - President, MA AFL-CIO

• Jaya Savita - Executive Director, Asian Pacific Islander’s Civic Action Network

• Jessica Tang - President, Amer. Fed. of Teachers Massachusetts

• Dr. Kylie Ariel Bemis - Advocate, Rising Hearts

• Reggi Alkiewicz - Civic Engagement Coordinator, North American Indian Center of Boston

• Rich Couture - President, Amer. Fed. of Govt Employees, Council 215; MA AFL-CIO

PLUS the stomp-your-foot tunes of BABAM, the uplifting choruses of BVOCAL, and a short acoustic set from a little group you may have heard of called DROPKICK MURPHYS

The federal administration thinks this country belongs to them—and that they're above the law. They're taking everything they can get their hands on—our rights, our health care, our data, our jobs, our services—and daring the world to stop them. But as Mayor Wu put it — two weeks after standing up for Boston’s immigrants in Congress and one week after Boston became a sanctuary city for the LGBTQ+ community —

“No one tells Boston how to take care of our own, not kings, and not presidents who think they are kings… God save whoever messes with Boston.”

On Saturday, April 5th, a coalition of Massachusetts resistance groups is taking to the streets to fight back with a clear message: Hands off! Because we will always protect our neighbors, regardless of their race, gender, sexuality, origin, background, status, disability, religion or lack thereof.

Massachusetts is ready to protect democracy—and we the people are ready to show up. We the People means EVERYBODY!

And we need your support to make this happen. Please help us rent the equipment we need to make this event as accessible to as many people as possible by donating here! (https://secure.actblue.com/donate/handsoffboston)

Co-Sponsors:

• Indivisible Mass Coalition • Mass 50501 • Swing Blue Alliance • UU Mass Action • 350 MASS • Brookhaven Resident’s Climate Change Committee • Canton Residents For Sustainable Equitable Future • Center to Support Immigrant Organizing/Equity Now & Beyond • Clean Water Action • Climate Action Now Western Mass • Committee to protect Our Democracy • First Churches of Northampton Peace & Justice Action Team • First Parish Unitarian Universalist-Canton • Food Matters Multimedia • Franklin County Continuing the Political Revolution • Global Warming Solutions IE-PAC • Gloucester Democratic City Committee • Grassroots for Gun Violence Prevention • Indivisible Northampton • Indivisible West Quabbin • JALSA Impact • Jewish Climate Action Network - MA • League of Women Voters of Marblehead • March Forward Quincy/Indivisible Quincy • Metro Boston Indivisible Coalition • Mothers Out Front Massachusetts • National Council of Jewish Women - Massachusetts • Nauset Citizens Alliance • Ocean River Institute, Inc • Our Revolution MA • Progressive Massachusetts • Rise Up Western Mass Indivisible • Sierra Club MA • Somerville Stands Together • Swing Left Western MA • Third Act MA • Trans Resistance MA • Unitarian Universalist Society of Amherst • Vote4Change •

Sign up here (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd678fb0AUXo7fTMxpvPv4YULGatuAmajaVJdb6H8JtshMSpA/viewform?usp=header) to join our growing list of co-sponsors!

This is a nonviolent action. We expect ALL participants to remain peaceful and to try to de-escalate any potential confrontations.

Transportation:

Western Mass (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YnkMiv3K12HMBpklTcOKI007c-cr6j289YfIP8zhiYc/)

MetroWest (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ipWCbrVGM1of0fSsXA5sdLraTye-W-whDz4SpZgPFXo/)

More areas coming soon!

How to Prepare:

• Bring signs → Make your message visible!

• Recruit friends → The more people, the more power.

• Record everything (except faces when possible)→ Post photos/videos with #HandsOff (https://events.pol-rev.com/tag/handsoff) #HandsOff2025 (https://events.pol-rev.com/tag/handsoff2025) #50501 #Mass50501 (https://events.pol-rev.com/tag/mass50501) #FiftyFiftyOne (https://events.pol-rev.com/tag/fiftyfiftyone) #BostonTok (https://events.pol-rev.com/tag/bostontok) #Indivisible (https://events.pol-rev.com/tag/indivisible) #SwingBlue (https://events.pol-rev.com/tag/swingblue)

FAQ

Q: Why is there a butterfly on your flyer?

A: The monarch butterfly represents the dignity and resilience of migrants and the right that all living beings have to move freely.

Q: What should we bring?

A: Bring your flags! American, Pride, Earth, etc. Bring your signs! And bring water and a snack!

Q: Who will be speaking?

A: A mix of elected officials and activists from a range of organizations impacted by the lawlessness of the federal administration.

Q: Will there be ASL Interpretation?

A: We've put out a request and are waiting to hear back. Check back here or email us for more information.

Q: How long is the march and is it accessible?

A: The march is about 1 mile, mostly flat, and accessible to wheels. For those with mobility issues, we recommend taking the T (Green Line) from Boston Common to Government Center.

For more questions, email [email protected]

Pre-designed signs available here! (https://brandfolder.com/s/trktmftbhrcpqjrmcjgk5cxm)