Concerns bring hundreds to Saturday protest

SANDPOINT — Concerns ran the gamut — health care, Social Security, veteran support — as roughly 800 people turned out Saturday for the local iteration of the national "Hands Off" protest. 

While organized by Sandpoint Indivisible and the local chapter of 50501, a grassroots political movement, the event spanned a four-block area near the Bonner County Courthouse with supporters on both sides of the street — and throughout the political spectrum.

There were young families with children dancing to the music along with older residents at their first protest. There were people from throughout Bonner and Boundary counties. There were teachers, veterans and residents of all political beliefs. 

The issues that brought them to the protest were as diverse as the people who attended, Karen Matthee, chair of the Bonner County Democrats, said. 

"It was everything," she said, noting the concerns shared by those at the protest with whom she spoke. "It was the federal cuts, policies by the Trump administration, the dismantling of the Department of Education, the rounding up of immigrants … there were endless concerns." 

The peaceful protest drew a mostly positive response from passersby with honks of the horn and waves of support. Those attending the rally aimed to draw attention both to concern over recent changes to federal policy but also to the importance of citizen participation in democracy, need for compromise and engagement of all sides in national policies and transparency in government. 

Nancy Gerth, who attended the protest, said events like Saturday's are an important way for average people to get their voices heard. 

"The power of our democracy resides in the people and the government isn't working at any level, any party," she said. "Personally, I don't think either party is doing a good job of governing, in or out of power, and we have to make our voices heard as loudly as possible and then vote." 

Gerth said what was clear at Saturday's protest is how scared many are — about everything from the economy to changes to education to threats to veterans' programs and Social Security. 

That fear and worry are key reasons why many she talked to said they decided to attend the protest despite never having gone to anything similar before. 

"There's no other way to make our voices heard," she said. 

The two-and-a-half-hour protest attracted a wide range of participants from both sides of the political aisle and of all ages, Matthee said.  

The strong turnout by so many in the two northern counties has heartening to see, but even more so that it was a bipartisan mix of people, Matthee said. 

"It was a bit of a surprise, but it was also exhilarating just to see that," she added. "I think the thing that mattered most to me was that it was Democrats and Republicans, veterans and teachers; it was everybody all standing up together with a united front." 

Gerth said recent conversations with friends and neighbors who are more politically conservative have been thoughtful and considerate with each side listening to the other. She's hopeful that those conversations and the participation of people from throughout the political spectrum are a sign of the future. 

"How do we get to the place where we're not yelling at each other," she said. "We don't have to do that and we're the only people who can do it. The politicians can't do it anymore." 

The hope, Gerth added, is both her recent conversations and Saturday's protest are the start of a discussion among friends and neighbors, not adversaries. 

"The conversation has started," she said. "Let's keep it up." 

    Protesters packed First Avenue near the Bonner County Courthouse for a local iteration of the national "Hands Off" protest. An estimated 800 people took part.
  

    A few of the estimated 800 people attending Saturday's Hands Off protest on First Avenue near the Bonner County Courthouse.