Nearly 400 people packed the grass triangle under Forest Grove’s giant American flag, enjoying the unseasonably warm weather while making their voices heard during the weekend’s wave of “Hands Off” protests.

Like thousands of demonstrations across the nation and beyond Saturday, April 5, residents came together in opposition to President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, voicing concerns over cutbacks and other recent policies.

And in the same vein as protesters in Hillsboro who marched through downtown and over a thousand people in Tigard who lined the sides of Highway 99W, Forest Grove organizers gathered beneath the giant flag at Pacific Avenue and Laurel Street — a symbol of unity fluttering above a community grappling with division.

Amid floating bubbles and blasting music, many held signs to passing traffic that echoed the sentiment of the nationwide protests: “Hands Off Women’s Rights,” “Hands Off Education” and “Hands Off Our Democracy.”

For many residents, the protests are more of a chance to challenge the dehumanization that they say the Trump administration has championed.

“What we’re seeing right now is a horrific trend of dehumanization. And I think that rehumanizing ourselves to each other, and that includes people who support Trump, is something we need. People need to understand that dehumanization is and will be the downfall of society,” local artist Emily Lux said.

Lux, who taught in public schools for 15 years and has lived in Forest Grove for 17, spoke about how counteracting the ongoing division by being more accepting is important — and that part of the solution lies in coming together as a community.

“We’ve gotten into this very individualistic toxicity, and I think that no one has ever survived without other people — so the more we can get to know each other and be invested in our local communities, the better.”

Longtime resident Linda Potter said Trump’s push for mass deportations brought her out to demonstrate in support of community members facing fears for their safety and security.

“I’m frightened by what’s happening with our government. I’m frightened by what’s happening to my friends. I’m frightened by the fact that people are losing their jobs for no good reason,” Potter said.

The gathering itself was organized quietly by local community member Lexi Zia, who noticed protests scheduled in Hillsboro and North Plains and decided to arrange a protest even closer to home.

“I wasn’t really expecting that many people to show up — maybe 20 — because we’re in a small town here. And so I set it up a week ago, and by the time I got here, 103 had signed up, and there is even more than that,” Zia said. “I think it’s just important to do what you can to make a difference, big or small, and this is something that I could do in my area.”

According to Zia, mounting discontent over recent federal decisions has spurred pushback among people of varying beliefs. At the center of many concerns is the heavy hand of Musk, who leads the controversial Department of Government Efficiency — an agency that has sparked criticism across political lines for making drastic cuts, from removing consumer protections to cutting Medicaid and reducing Social Security services.

“We’re in a place right now in this nation where people who have never spoken up, who have never come to protest before, are coming and it doesn’t really matter your political standing. We just are seeing that things are wrong right now and need to be changed,” Zia said.

But Saturday’s demonstration wasn’t the first time Forest Grove residents have come together to protest the recent actions of the Trump administration — over the past two months, organizers have rallied under the flag to decry Trump’s policies, including Donna Gustafson, a Forest Grove city councilor acting on her own behalf.

“Our first protest at the flagpole probably had 50 people — and we want to make sure that we keep pushing. A lot of the time, people start to lose hope and slow down, and we have to keep the rhythm going, because it’s working,” Gustafson said.

And work is being done beyond local demonstrations, according to Gustafson. Forest Grove organizers are in contact with U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, urging elected officials to continue to fight on the federal front, the city councilor noted.

“Diversity, equity and inclusion is being stripped from everything, and the organizations who still want to have that as part of their process are dropping it out of fear. Our veterans have fought for us over the years, and their benefits are being cut right now. I work in health care, and the hospitals are cutting staff because all of their funding is on hold and they cannot afford to pay them. People are being put at risk,” Gustafson said.

Despite concerns about potential violence, the Forest Grove protest remained peaceful — as did demonstrations across Washington County.

That hasn’t always been the case for protests against Musk and Trump. Since Trump won the presidency, Tesla dealerships have been targeted with shootings and vandalism, with one in Tigard hit twice one week.

The Trump administration has labeled the attacks acts of “domestic terrorism” and has promised harsh punishments for anyone caught vandalizing Tesla dealerships.

Protests in Forest Grove don’t look like they’ll be slowing down; Indivisible Forest Grove holds protests at the flagpole on the first and third Fridays of each month, and Saturday’s demonstrators seemed keen on continuing to show up and out.

“This is just the beginning,” Zia said.