Protesters walk around with signs and clothing from the dystopian novel, “A Handmaid’s Tale,” in front of the Jefferson County Courthouse on Saturday. Tabitha Johnston

CHARLES TOWN — A thousand people from throughout the Eastern Panhandle, Virginia and Maryland gathered together on the streets of Charles Town on Saturday afternoon, to protest the recent actions in the federal government.

The event was one of hundreds taking place across the nation that day, joining together under the same name and message.

“This is one of many being held across the country. There are even some being held in Europe today!” said Indivisible Jefferson County co-leader Susan Pipes of the Hand Off! Rally. “Through this event, people all across the country can stand up in solidarity together.”

Indivisible Jefferson County partnered with another nonprofit political activism organization, Hope in Alliance, to plan the Charles Town rally.

According to Hope in Alliance founder and president Jocelyn Hill, the Hands Off! Rally was a bipartisan event.

Protesters chant together at the Hands Off! Rally in Charles Town on Saturday. Tabitha Johnston

“I like to call us a group of truth tellers, who are bringing awareness to the public!” Hill said. “A lot of people on both sides of the political spectrum have been lied to. We are accepting former MAGA members who have changed their minds. We have to remind people that we all need grace — fighting hate with hate just breeds more hate!”

She said that many of the actions of the presidential administration over the past few months have been against the interest of almost all of the American people, except for the very rich.

For Marybeth Grove, of Shepherdstown, one of her family members has recently come to terms with the fact that voting for the current president was against her personal interests.

“My niece didn’t have enough money to pay for groceries — they’re so expensive! Donald Trump was talking about decreasing prices, during his campaign. We cautioned her, ‘It’s not going to happen like that,’ but she voted for him anyway,” Grove said. “Now she’s seen that prices are going up! She’s disappointed and angry, and now she’s so embarrassed to say that she voted for him.”

With grocery prices likely to rise even more in the future, due to the heavy tariffs recently imposed by and, reciprocally, on the U.S., Grove said she worries what this will mean for the future — both for her niece and for the many other Americans like her, who have no choice but to live paycheck to paycheck.

Hope in Alliance founder Jocelyn Hill, right, and Hope in Alliance member Tim Eutin protest together at the Hands Off! Rally in Charles Town on Saturday. Tabitha Johnston

“People have to be reminded that every single aspect of their lives are being affected by this,” said Tobi Provost, of Shepherdstown. “The billionaires don’t deserve to have the whole pot of gold.”

Provost was joined by many other Shepherdstown residents, including Marellen Aherne.

“It’s so disheartening to see so much that is, by the stroke of a pen, being eradicated — a lot of civil rights and women’s rights,” Aherne said. “This is a catastrophic time!”

Aherne noted that she was among the many protesters that pushed for civil rights legislation in the past. To see that legislation now being overturned has left her feeling deeply disturbed.

“We are all horrified by the implications of what this means for our kids and their future,” Aherne said.

Protesters cluster together on the street corner across from the Jefferson County Courthouse on Saturday. Tabitha Johnston