DALLAS—Fury is the word to accurately describe the feelings of protesters gathered at the “Hands Off” Rally in Dallas on Dealey Plaza on Saturday April 5.
They were furious about the fascist Trump-Musk billionaire takeover, attacks immigrants, racist attacks against DEI and teaching the truth about systemic racism, the attacks on the LGBTQ community, the violations of free speech rights and due process, attacks on Medicaid and Social Security, denial of climate change, attacks on unions, attacks on the Department of Education, unjust firings of civil service workers, and more.
The Communist Party Club of Dallas-Fort Worth was in attendance, distributing literature and signing people up to receive People’s World headlines.
“April 5th across the country was a monumental protest against the second fascist Trump presidency, the beginning of a movement to protect the rights of working people being targeted by Trump and Elon Musk’s gutting of social programs and repressive policies,” said activist Cassandra Swart.
Lawrence Carter, one of those who was busy promoting People’s World, said that in discussions he had with fellow demonstrators he “could feel how frustrated and powerless they felt and how ready for change they are.”
Carter said:
“I can see this enthusiasm being channeled into productive actions. Conversations about class inequality and wealth redistribution are becoming more common practice. People’s World sign ups left and right had me hopeful people are ready to start imagining a life outside of the lens of this capitalist hellscape.”
“(The Trump administration) is the result of years of attacks against the working class such as the lack of a Medicare for All, the diminishing of our social safety nets, deportations of immigrants. This administration continues what has and will continue to be an attack on the working class,” said activist Stewart Salazar.
Rosie Curts, a member of Alliance/American Federation Teachers Local 2260, which represents educators in the Dallas Independent School District, spoke to the crowd on behalf of the Dallas AFL-CIO Central Labor Council. “I’m representing the working class,” she declared from the stage.
“You know who’s in the working class?” she asked. “Everyone who works. Unless you’re one of the oligarchs who lives off of the labor of others and their stock dividends, YOU are the working class. WE are the working class.”
She said that, statistically speaking, most of the people in the crowd were likely not members of a union, but that does not mean they’re not impacted by what happens to unions.
“Non-union companies improve wages and working conditions so that they can stay competitive with union workplaces, or in hopes that it will demotivate their employees to unionize,” Curts emphasized. “When a union wins, everyone across the industry gets a bump, because nothing scares CEOs and billionaires as much as working class people working together, staying united.
“Your job may not be union, but if we do not stop this attempt to strip our right to unionize and organize in our workplaces, I promise that you still will feel the impact.”
If unions are destroyed, Curts warned that all the protections the labor movement has won over the decades could disappear. “Things we take for granted now, like sick leave, workers comp, the 8-hour workday, mandatory rest breaks, child labor laws, workplace safety standards, pregnancy and parental leave, anti-discrimination laws – it could all be gone.”
Gene Lantz, President of Texas Alliance for Retired Americans, told People’s World, “I saw many seniors in the rally. Some of them were as old as I, and were probably veterans of the Vietnam anti-war days. Many, but not all, carried signs specifically about retirement issues because all our main issues – pensions, health care, and Social Security – are under threat from Musk/Trump. Seniors are a big part of today’s protest movement.”
Brinda Gurumoorthy, co-chair of Democratic Socialists of America North Texas said, “I was glad to see that people came out for this and are actually mad about Trump and Musk. The real challenge will be getting those folks to join and contribute to an organization.”
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