The Republican’s administration has spent the first months of his second term slashing government programs, kicking off a global trade war through tariffs, carrying out immigration crackdowns, and attacking the civil rights of the trans community.
Along with rallies in Williamstown, Great Barrington, and other Berkshire communities, demonstrators flocked to Park Square in downtown Pittsfield, the region’s largest municipality.
As befits local character, attendees brought colorful signage to line the curbs of the green space that sits in the city’s main intersection.
“It says, ‘Star on Mars, wall on Earth, zero clue what life is worth," said Steve Schiff.
He came to the rally from Cummington, a hill town 20 miles east of Pittsfield.
“Well, that means that we have a lot of leaders who are thinking only about themselves and not really the impact that they're having on real lives, and they just don't care about it," he explained to WAMC. "They just don’t care.”
Schiff also brought his dog, Velvet, whose reflective raincoat was adorned with a sign reading “I’m not a citizen, please don’t jail me” — a comment on the harsh nationwide immigration raids that saw at least 10 Berkshire County residents taken away by federal agents last month.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement said it was forced to make the arrests after "local jurisdictions refused honor immigration detainer requests."
Witnesses and activists attest that the abductions were performed illegally and that those taken away often faced no criminal charges and were not offered a warrant or due process.
“We're talking about real people who are being treated worse than many pets, and it's horrifying," Schiff told WAMC. "You know, everybody migrated to this country one way or another at one point. So, they should be treated with dignity and kindness and humanity.”
Rosemary Wessel, also of Cummington, wore a handmade plastic “no kings” crown and a sign that read “Hands Off Our Neighbors” alongside a crossed-out ICE logo.
“That could have been parents a couple decades ago," she said. "Folks that are already on green card got caught in the swoop, and even the folks who aren't shouldn't have been picked up. Unless there's charges that they can prove, that's no reason to scoop anybody up. And no due process for anybody whether or not they're guilty of anything? That's not right, that's not what this country is about, that's not why folks like my parents came here, and I hate seeing the country go this way. We’ve got to push back.”
WAMC asked Wessel how she defined the value of the rally.
“Just knowing that there's this many people who are opposed to it, and hopefully that spurs our elected officials to stand up," she responded. "It's been kind of disarming seeing them not exactly know what to do to push back and to stop the harm that's being inflicted right here, right now."
Despite ceaseless rain on a cold New England spring afternoon, there was a festive spirit in Park Square. For many, it was a family affair.
“Mine says ‘hands off my rights.’ As a member of the queer community, we're living in really, really scary times, but unfortunately, not unprecedented," said Allegra Chin of Pittsfield. “As someone who is part of the trans community, but I don't experience dysmorphia and I am not going to feel overly uncomfortable if someone misgenders me, I feel a need to stand up for my brothers and sisters and siblings who cannot experience that same privilege and use my voice wherever I can.”
Chin came to the rally with their sibling.
“Can I swear? Okay- It says, ‘mind your fucking business, hands off our community,'" said Emily Johnson, also of Pittsfield. “I don't think that people should be dictating what people do with their bodies or, you know, anything. I mean, obviously, I think it's more of a message to the conservative believers who I think would maybe relate to the message a little bit. They claim they want small government, and it doesn't feel that way right now. So, I just want people to leave us alone. Let people do what we want.”
The message on Rudy Pfeiler of Hinsdale’s sign was painted in bright scarlet.
“Americans going broke because of traitor Trump and Nazi Musk," he read.
The 76-year-old says that as a veteran, he thinks the president’s behavior is particularly egregious.
“I can't believe that they let him get away," Pfeiler told WAMC. "He should have been in jail for January 6th. He broke an oath. I took an oath when I got drafted, and if I'd have broken that, I'd gone to jail, and he should have gone to jail right up front and then we wouldn't be in a situation right now. It’d been over with.”
