HR President’s Day Protest Draws 150 as community speaks out on fascism

Correction : This story erroneously reported that no local leaders were at this protest in its original publication. It has come to our attention from Kevin Walsh that “long-serving HR City Council person, Mark Zahnmiller was there … And our current Mayor, Paul Blackburn, was also there.” We apologize to Mr. Zahnmiller and Mr. Blackburn and our readers for the error.

By CCCNews Staff

On Presidents’ Day, as cities around the country reflected (protested) on its leadership, around 150 people gathered in downtown Hood River to do more than reflect—they came to resist. Standing outside the water fountain on State Street, the crowd was loud but peaceful, determined yet welcoming, a powerful contrast to the unease that has settled into the national conversation.

The reasons for showing up were many—concerns over body autonomy, medical freedom, constitutional rights, the erosion of democracy, the growing fear that the government is moving further away from its people and deeper into authoritarianism. But if there was a single unifying theme, it was the refusal to sit by in silence.

"We all need to stand up and say something," said one protester, holding a sign that read, Silence is Compliance. Another (with a British accent ) immediately responded; "I ran 6,000 miles from a king and I’ll be damned if I watch this country turn into something I had to flee."

A few feet away, another sign made the message plain: Defend the Constitution Against Trump.

The protest was filled with familiar faces—longtime activists, first-time demonstrators, and everyday people who simply felt they could no longer stay home and watch history repeat itself.

"My name is Ken, and I’m here because it’s so hard to cope with what’s going on. People being deported, trans people being erased from history books, from monuments, from everything. I got fired on Saturday from my federal job for no reason. So, I can either sit at home and be depressed, or I can come here and make it known that this is not okay."

Jill, another protester, echoed the sentiment.

"I feel like there’s so little I can do as one person,” she said. “But I need to be with other people. This is what I can do."

Many of the concerns expressed were deeply personal.

"I volunteer at the Parkdale Fish Food Bank," said Judy, a longtime Hood River resident. "We’ve already been seeing more people come in for food assistance in the last several months. But in this climate of fear, I worry that people won’t come. That they’ll be too scared to get the help they need. That they’ll stop sending their kids to school, stop going to church, stop seeking medical care. And for what? A government that should be protecting its citizens, not scaring them."

Others reflected on what it meant to be here at this moment in history.

"We are witnessing a coup and a dictatorship in the making," said Amanda, holding a sign with a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. "Power without love is reckless. We have to come together."

While the protest focused on broad national concerns, some attendees connected the issues to their everyday work—especially those in healthcare who have seen firsthand the consequences of political decisions on human lives.

For many, the day wasn’t just about opposing one politician or one policy—it was about making sure the country does not slide further into something unrecognizable.

"My name is Amber Rose, and I’m with Hood River Latino Network," she said in a speach to the crowd. "Immigrants belong here. This nation was literally built by Black and brown folks. Trans folks belong here. Queer folks belong here. And people need to show up, and they need to show up for their neighbors, because this is really fucking important."

Nearby, another protestor held a sign directed at Chief Justice John Roberts: You Own This—Now Fix It. The protest wasn’t just aimed at the administration, but at every institution that has allowed democracy to weaken, citing the most recent supreme court Trump immunity ruling.

Craig, a Hood River County resident, put it simply.

"It’s important to exercise your right to speech and public assembly. If we don’t, we lose it."

Looking Ahead

As the event wound down, people lingered, talking, sharing stories, making plans. This wasn’t just a one-day moment—it was part of a movement, one that many hoped would grow stronger with time.

"We weren’t loud enough last time," one protester admitted. "And we weren’t sustained. That has to change."

Judy agreed. "This is not a time to be quiet."

The resistance, it seems, is just getting started.