Socorro joins international protests

On Saturday, April 5, Socorro was among the over 1,300 US and international cities to host a Hands Off rally in protest of the current presidential administration.

Karin Williams said she estimated at least 125 protesters assembled Saturday at the Socorro Plaza. Williams is a member of the Socorro County Chapter of Indivisible which helped organize the peaceful assembly.

“We just wanted to convey how we feel about this administration’s executive orders and the new budget that is likely to cut Medicaid and SNAP benefits,” Williams said. “The people there are your friends or your neighbors. There’s no one scary, and we invite anyone with concerns about this administration to join us.”

Williams said there was zero police presence and no negative disruptions. She said that when she approached the city for permission to assemble, they said it was alright as long as they stayed on the plaza and on sidewalks.

The next Hands Off rally is scheduled for Saturday, April 19, on the Socorro Plaza. Indivisible also gathers on the plaza every Tuesday at noon to protest recent presidential actions and executive orders, and share their concern over actions taken by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Indivisible was founded in 2016 as a registered 501(c)(4) with chapters across the country. According to their website, the group’s mission is to “reject all forms of political violence and intimidation, no matter the source or the target,” and their stated values include building a non-violent movement to “save democracy and defeat authoritarianism.”

In addition to Indivisible’s Tuesday gatherings, the Democratic Federation of Women sponsors a protest every Friday from 5-6 pm on the corner of Bullock Ave. and California St. from 5-6pm.