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In photos: Thousands gathered at Pack Square Park for ‘Hands Off’ demonstration

POWER TO THE PEOPLE: Veteran Jay Carey spoke at the April 5 'Hands Off' events in Asheville at Pack Square Park. Carey is the founder of Resist & Persist, a nonpartisan veteran advocacy organization dedicated to empowering veterans and their families. As he concluded his speech he and the crowd chanted, "Power to the people." Photo by Thomas Calder

Thousands gathered at Pack Square Park as part of the April 5 Hands Off Nationwide Day of Action. According to reports, an estimated 1,400 similar protests are taking place across the country. The Asheville event was sponsored by local groups Good Trouble WNC, Indivisible Asheville/WNC and the NC Poor People’s Campaign.

The two-hour rally featured nearly a dozen speakers, addressing issues on health care, climate, veterans’ rights, Social Security, Medicaid, education and the impact of federal cuts on local organizations and institutions. Along with speakers, the gathering featured performances by Womansong of Asheville and the Asheville Gay Men’s Chorus.

All photos by Thomas Calder.

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