Lawrence residents have been gathering downtown every Sunday since April 5, 2025, joining a growing national movement fighting for voting rights and social programs.
Lexy Urban | [email protected]
The “Hands Off” protests, which began earlier this month, have spread across the country as participants push back against federal policies they say threaten democracy and essential services.
“We just have so many things wrong right now,” local protester Christy Currier said. “But probably my best inspiration is for the marginalized in our communities that are being the most harmed by this administration.”
communities during the weekly “Hands Off” demonstration in downtown Lawrence on Sunday.
The protests address a wide range of issues, including proposed cuts to Social Security and Medicare, changes to immigration policies, and concerns about voting access.
“There is already so much fear of funding,” Currier said. “For example, with just food here in town—it has already lost funding, has already had to reduce what they’re giving out to people, so there’s direct impact already.”
Among the most pressing concerns for some protesters is the SAVE Act, a bill that recently passed the House and is awaiting action in the Senate. Critics say it could disproportionately affect voting access for women and other marginalized groups.
“Mainly, I came out today specifically for the SAVE Act,” protester Nadia Scruggs said. “That will restrict votes, basically for married women. It’s basically voter repression in a lot of different ways.”
Scruggs emphasized that local action can influence national change.
“Well, the power’s in the people, honestly,” she said. “We’re the ones who vote for House representatives, we’re the ones who vote for Congress, we vote for the president. They should be working for us. We pay them, too, so they should be working for us.”
The “Hands Off” protests continue every Sunday from noon to 1 p.m. at 9th and Massachusetts Street in downtown Lawrence.