Protesters rally in Boston as part of nationwide protest against Trump

Thousands of people flooded onto Boston Common Saturday under gray skies and intermittent rain as part of a nationwide day of protests against President Trump and in support of civil rights.

The rally, dubbed "Hands Off Our Democracy!," was one of dozens planned across the country. Organized by the 50501 Movement and local sponsors, the plan was to hold a protest in every U.S. state at the same time.

In its call for support, the group stated on its website "we will always protect our neighbors, regardless of their race, their gender or sexuality, where they were born, or their choice or lack of religion."

Protesters started streaming into the Common and crowding around the Parkman Bandstand well before the gathering was slated to begin at 11 a.m. Many carried signs and flags representing the U.S., Palestinians and Pride. Attendees then marched to City Hall Plaza where a slate of speakers addressed the crowd, including Sen. Ed Markey.

"We will stand with Rümeysa Öztürk," Markey said, referring to the Tufts doctoral student arrested in Somerville last month by immigration agents and currently being held in a detention center in Louisiana. "Freedom of speech is a right, not a crime. Release Rümeysa now, Donald Trump! Release her!"

Among the protesters was 35-year-old Jeremy Zolan from Connecticut. He said he used to study geology but for financial reasons has turned to working in a factory as a machinist. He said he recently had an opportunity to return to his field and academia, but the position disappeared amid the slashes to federal funding.

"We're willing to just make our position as a research and innovation superpower plummet just so a few people can strengthen their grip of control — it is absolutely disgusting to me as a scientist," Zolan said. "Seeing all these people losing their jobs in scientific research, all these projects shut down. It is going to directly harm this country and another country is going to take our place."

It was the first protest for Eugenia Corbo, 53, of East Boston. Originally from Argentina, she said what the Trump administration is doing to immigrant communities is unacceptable. She said in East Boston, children are missing school out of fear, a concern seen in other neighborhoods with large immigrant populations in Greater Boston.

“Seeing the diversity of people here — it gives me hope. I think that's one of the reasons to come to this this protest,” Corbo said. “It's not just to protest against something, but also to get energy from this crowd and feel some hope that we all need right now.”

Laura Simpson, 52, of Cambridge, showed up head to toe in Trump attire and carrying a Trump 2024 flag. As she batted back heckles from protesters, she said she supports President Trump for what she described as closing the border and cracking down on gangs like Tren de Aragua and MS-13.

“I mean my friends are from El Salvador. They came here to flee their country because they wanted a better life for themselves,” Simpson said. “Now their neighbors are the MS-13. How is that fair to them? And they came the legal way.”

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu took the stage at City Hall Plaza, just hours before she was set to formally launch her reelection campaign.

"We are here today to send a clear message that we will not sit by while Donald Trump and his billionaire friends dismantle the protections that our families count on. Hands off Boston!" she said, in what became a rallying cry throughout her speech. "Our seniors, our veterans, our disabled residents, immigrants, queer and trans communities are not your target."

Before protesters began to disperse, The Dropkick Murphys performed an acoustic set. The venerable punk band has made waves recently. Lead singer Ken Casey challenged a fan in a Trump shirt to check whether his garb was made in America. It wasn't, and a video capturing the interaction went viral.