Hands Off: Why I Marched—and Why It Matters
Trump’s new tariffs aren’t just bad economic policy—they’re a political weapon. Yesterday, I marched in protest. What I witnessed was not just resistance but spiritual transformation.
Last week, Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs on U.S. trading partners, sending the stock market into a tailspin and unraveling years of delicate diplomacy. To many, it looked like another impulsive, erratic move. But for those paying closer attention, it’s something far more dangerous.
This isn’t just bad economic policy. It’s a power grab—designed to reward loyalty and punish dissent. It’s an autocrat’s playbook in action.
The Method Behind the Madness
Trump’s base believes these tariffs are about protecting American industry. They see a fighter, standing up for struggling towns and forgotten workers. But the truth is darker.
As Senator Chris Murphy recently argued, these tariffs aren’t about trade at all—they’re a political weapon.1 Trump is using economic disruption to force corporations, universities, and even law firms to pledge loyalty in exchange for relief. If they comply, he backs off. If they resist, he threatens to destroy them.
He’s doing what autocrats do: consolidating power by controlling three things—information (through schools, media, history), the economy (tariffs, public programs), and the political system (elections, courts, parties). Through fear and spectacle, he’s reshaping American democracy into something unrecognizable.
So What Can We Do?
Yesterday, I marched in one of the hundreds of “Hands Off” rallies that took place across the country.
As I headed to Atlanta’s Piedmont Park, my Uber driver asked why we were going. He described himself as an independent, and had just dropped off a Trump supporter.
“Do you really think it makes a difference?” he asked.
It’s a good question.
Will marching reverse tariffs? Restore funding to public health agencies? Compel Trump to show compassion?
Maybe not immediately. But I’ve come to believe that marches aren’t just about policy—they’re about people. About hope. About public memory. About the soul of a nation.
Small Moments, Big Meaning
On the walk to the Capitol, I met people whose lives had been directly impacted by the cruelty of recent policies.
One woman carried a sign reading “Jobless Health Scientist” with an arrow pointing to her head. She told me she had been laid off when Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) slashed CDC funding—despite working to stop the spread of bird flu. Even after being let go, they still emailed her for help. I thanked her for thirteen years of service. She deserved far better
.
Another marcher waved a sign: “Save the U.S. Postal Service.” When a postal worker drove by, she ran to shake his hand through the window. He honked in solidarity.
We passed church volunteers offering water and welcome. At the Capitol, the bells of Central Presbyterian rang out. Their members greeted us with open doors and kind words: “Thank you for your witness.”
These were not just protest moments—they were human moments. Transformative moments.
A Spiritual Pilgrimage
For me, marches are spiritual pilgrimages. I go not just to be seen or counted, but to be changed. To feel less alone. To remember that democracy is something we build together—in public, with strangers, one step at a time.
Today’s lectionary reading from Isaiah 43 came to mind as we marched:
“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”
The question is not whether a way is being made—the question is, can we see it?
Can we see it in the “Hands Off” marchers? In Wisconsin, where voters just rejected billionaire control over their future? In Republican town halls overflowing with dissent? Can we see it in ourselves, in the quiet resolve of everyday choices?
The Work Is Spiritual
Democracy is not just civic work. It’s spiritual work. It requires courage, imagination, and deep moral clarity. Even now—especially now—we must be the ones who perceive the new thing springing forth.
So march. Talk. Show up. Share water. Shake hands. Ask questions. Bear witness.
We are not alone.
Call to Action:
If this resonated with you, consider sharing this post or leaving a comment. I’d love to hear where you’re seeing signs of hope in your own community.
I am amazed at the community that has come together where I am. The gathering yesterday was 10 times larger than the first. In spite of the serious reason for our gathering, there is a sense of celebration and joy.