When Charlotte, a local second grader, stood on the steps of the Benton County Courthouse to show the sign she had made at the protest to the hundreds in attendance, she was met with applause and solidarity.

The sign only had three words: “Save the Constitution.”

Protests took place nationwide on Saturday for “Hands Off! National Day of Action” — a protest pointed towards the current presidential administration in what their website states is “the most brazen power grab in modern history.” In addition to Corvallis, protests also took place in Eugene, Salem and Portland.

Charlotte’s sentiment was held by each person at Saturday’s demonstration. Protesters lined Fourth Street for most of the afternoon, holding signs with images and sayings that mocked the current administration and chants that expressed discontent towards figures like President Donald Trump and Special Government Employee and Tesla CEO Elon Musk. From the top of cars and stairs, hundreds made their voices heard.

Cars with flags, expressive writing and enthusiastic community members passed by and honked in support. Music was playing, and there were stands set up for sign making. From the older members of the community to students of the local schools, it seemed that everyone was there to relay one message: 

Hands off our government. 

Gallery • 5 Photos

Aisling Gazzo

State Sen. Sara Gelser Blouin, D-8, speaks while standing next to a young girl holding up her sign on the top of the steps of the Benton County Circuit Court at the People’s Veto Day protest on April 5. The People’s Veto Day protest, also known as the Hands Off! demonstration, was organized nationwide to protest against Donald Trump’s administration.

“I am a future educator … and so many laws that are being placed right now directly affect me … I’m not going to be complacent and compliant,” said Clara Earle, a student studying education at Oregon State University. It was a sentiment shared by many other students attending the protest.

However, it wasn’t just students and residents at the protest, as a few elected officials gave speeches to the crowd from atop the steps of the Benton County Courthouse. 

State Sen. Sara Gelser Blouin, D-8, State Rep. Sarah Finger McDonald, D-16 and Corvallis Mayor Charles Maughan shared their thoughts to the five-block wide crowd of protesters, showing solidarity and expressing discontent at the current administration. 

“Our country matters. I love what it stands for, and I believe that communities make things happen,” said Blouin. “I think people feel very overwhelmed … The danger of feeling overwhelmed is that it’s paralyzing … even if you do a small thing, it’s part of the effort … Seeing a crowd like this, it fed me. I feel energized and ready to keep fighting.”

Later, Benton County Commissioner Gabe Shepherd, along with Maughan, shared why they were standing with their fellow residents.

“I’m here because we need to stand up for our rights … We can’t allow this administration to defund everything that protects the everyday worker, you know, or people who are retired … I don’t think so,” said Maughan. 

Shepherd added, “It is a grassroots effort to combat an actual constitutional crisis at the national level … I’m proud of this community for showing up.”