JERSEY SHORE – Large protests took place on April 5 across the nation – and even in other countries – against President Donald Trump and federal cuts, although some local Republicans think it’s all empty rhetoric.
One protest site was in Toms River, where approximately 1,500 protestors lined both sides of Hooper Avenue near the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs clinic. Many were concerned with the proposed cuts of 80,000 staff members from the federal VA department, while others criticized Elon Musk slashing federal agencies and Trump’s tariffs that led to the tanking of the stock market.
This rally was part of a national movement called “Hands Off!” that had more than five million people across the country protesting at over 1,400 locations in all 50 states ranging from small towns to major cities like New York City, Chicago, Boston and Washington D.C. They were organized by civil rights organizations, labor unions, LGBTQ+ advocates, women’s rights groups, veterans and political activists.
Veterans spoke out against proposed cuts to the Veterans Affairs Department. (Photo courtesy Democratic Coalition of Ocean County)
Toms River is the county seat of Ocean County which is one of the most Republican counties in New Jersey. Among those present were members of the Manchester Democrats, the local chapter of Indivisible, and the area affiliate of the National Organization for Women.
Many signs featured the “Hands Off” motto, such as Hands Off…Our Democracy, Veterans Benefits, Medicare, Social Security, Libraries, Immigrants, Panama, Greenland and Canada.
Protestors noted concern over potential cuts to Medicare and Medicaid while others were critical of policies aimed at the transgender community who have experienced cuts to their medical coverage.
While one sign noted “Vets Over Billionaires” and “Anti Oligarchy” the overall feeling was that Trump’s actions since taking office in January did more for the rich than the poor or middle class and they had no faith in tariffs bringing more industry within the U.S.
“I feel we need to keep showing up at events like this out in public. We have to remain visible and bring friends and resist. I was astounded and delighted by the turnout and it was incredibly peaceful,” Jamie Harrison of Waretown said.
Harrison said, “I’ll be 79 in July. I was in the Army from 1964 to 1968. I was a student nurse at Walter Reed Hospital. I was in a program to train nurses for the country and the Army as well. My whole class went to Vietnam.”
“We spent many hours in the hospital taking care of gravely wounded soldiers,” she added. “Years afterward I went to work at the VA Center in Philadelphia as a nurse and when you are there you certainly see that many veterans there are without medical options for health insurance. They were left behind and at least the VA was there to step in and take care of them.”
Protesters brought out signs showing their concerns. (Photo courtesy Democratic Coalition of Ocean County)
Harrison also noted, “the VA is the only government health insurance that we have in this country. These are services that are really important for the vast majority of those who go there. The mental health services are really important and have been drastically curtailed.”
“I am so sad and troubled to see it eviscerated like this,” Harrison said.
Those present said the rally’s turnout was multi-generational ranging from those in their 20s to 80s. Many drivers honked in support of the rally although one truck was gunning its engine in opposition to the protestors.
Republican Response
Understandably, one person not present at the rally was Ocean County Republican Chairman George Gilmore who spoke to Jersey Shore Online.com providing a Republican response to the Toms River rally and the Hands Off! movement overall.
“I don’t see an effort by President Trump to cut back services, health care or anything else toward veterans. He really has great admiration for those who have served their country and I feel this is much hullabaloo over nothing in the end,” Gilmore said.
Gilmore added, “I feel this is a wait and see situation because I think President Trump will do everything in his power to improve services for our veterans. I think that was part of his campaign promises when he was running for president.”
“There has been rumors by the Democrats about cutting social security, cutting Medicaid and Medicare and everything else under the sun. It’s all a bunch of hogwash to get people antagonized toward the president,” he said.
Gilmore added, “let’s give him a chance; he has just started his fourth month. Let’s give him a review after his first year on how he’s done. I’m very bullish on the president. Nobody gave him much of a chance in the beginning. He ran a very tough campaign and after attempted assassinations on two different occasions, he weathered it all and did the best a Republican presidential candidate has done in New Jersey in a long time. He came within five points. I think if he ran an active campaign in New Jersey and spent money he would have won (the state).”
Protesters are concerned that cuts to Medicaid will hurt the most vulnerable. (Photo courtesy Democratic Coalition of Ocean County)
A weekly protest rally has been taking place at 1 p.m. on Wednesdays in front of Toms River Town Hall which houses the congressional office of 4th District Representative Chris Smith. The congressman was contacted by Jersey Shore Online.com for this story but had not replied by press time.
Frank Sadeghi, Deputy Director of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners (who are all Republicans) told Jersey Shore Online.com “as an Ocean County Commissioner, my priorities are to make certain that our residents are served in the best possible way. Any policies that negatively impact Ocean County residents, I am opposed to, whether they are being called for by Democrats or Republicans.”
“Our ultimate responsibility is to Ocean County residents and our response is to always provide good government. Everyone has the right to free speech and everyone has the right to peacefully demonstrate. The rallies this weekend shows our residents are passionate about programs and services and they are willing to voice their concerns,” he added.
Veterans spoke out against proposed cuts to the Veterans Affairs Department. (Photo courtesy Democratic Coalition of Ocean County)
Another mass activism event by Hands Off! organizers is planned for April 19 nationwide, details of which have not been announced.
Gilmore said he wasn’t surprised that more rallies were planned. He added, Democrats “hid the fact that President Joe Biden was in a severe decline in his mental capacity and now we are getting the inside story of what was going on in the White House, you can pardon me if I don’t necessarily believe or react to the various positions that the Democrats are taking right now.”
“They got hit extremely hard in the elections with Republicans taking the Senate holding onto the House and electing President Trump. I think they are trying to resonate with some kind of message if they can find one,” Gilmore added.
The post Anti-Trump Protest Draws Large Crowd appeared first on Jersey Shore Online.
