Photos from the Hands Off! protest in Lancaster, PA

[Mousetoescamper]

More than a thousand of us gathered for the Hands Off! protest at Penn Square in Lancaster city today. Lancaster is usually bustling on Saturdays, and it seemed especially so today. There was heavy traffic at Penn Square, where two main streets converge. We enjoyed tremendous support from passersby who honked their car horns and waved.

[dalton99a]

1. Great pics

[Mousetoescamper]

3. Thanks, dalton99a!

[BOSSHOG]

2. NO ONES TREADING ON YOU SWEETIE

How so very correct. Whining conservatives displaying crap made in China.

Thank You for the awesome effort. God Bless the Good Guys.

[Mousetoescamper]

6. That's my favorite 'slogan' of the lot

Last edited Mon Apr 7, 2025, 12:22 AM - Edit history (1)

When I saw the Gadsden Flag's image from a distance, I thought: Not this shit--not today! But my scowl turned to a beaming grin when I got close enough to read the text.

Thanks and you're welcome, BOSSHOG!

[10 Turtle Day]

88. Mine too!

[Skittles]

4. very creative!

well done!

[Mousetoescamper]

8. Thanks, Skittles!

[a kennedy]

5. OMGAWD!!!!! These signs are soooooooooo great.

You ALL are making me soooooooooo proud.

[Mousetoescamper]

9. Thanks, a kennedy!

[Easterncedar]

7. Great pictures!

I love “No one’s treading on you, Sweetie.”

[Mousetoescamper]

12. Thanks, Easterncedar!

[Easterncedar]

13. Waving back

[Tickle]

10. I've been working all day and I'm still at it.

Honestly, it's been a good day—smooth, no issues—and we need to keep it that way. The last thing we want is to create a situation that gives him an excuse to declare martial law.

[Mousetoescamper]

14. So far, so good

[canetoad]

11. Kick

Thanks for posting. Looks like a great day.

[Mousetoescamper]

15. Thanks and you're welcome, canetoad!

[MiHale]

16. The Resistance is growing! 👍

Nice coverage.

[Mousetoescamper]

18. There's something in the air!

Thanks, MiHale!

[Bernardo de La Paz]

40. And it is more than just signs in the air. Thanks for great thread, Mousetoescamper. . . nt

[Mousetoescamper]

44. You are most welcome, Bernardo de La Paz!

[niyad]

17. Thank you for these wonderful images!

[Mousetoescamper]

19. Thanks and you're welcome, niyad!

[Beringia]

20. Awesome, thank you

[Mousetoescamper]

29. Thanks and you're welcome, Beringia!

[llmart]

21. Great signs!

I like "Pissed Off Old People".

[Mousetoescamper]

31. There were very few print-shop signs

That was one of the best.

Thanks, llmart!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

22. WOW! I LOVE ALL THESE IMAGES! THANK YOU, MY DEAR MOUSETOESCAMPER!

I wonder how many people were there. Looks like a LOT.

Kudos to all!

[Mousetoescamper]

33. Local media now reports that there were more than 2,500 of us at the protest!

That's a considerable (and maybe significant) number for a city of 57,000. I might amend my original posting that there were "more than a thousand."

Thanks and you're welcome, Peggy!

[people]

23. Great Pictures!

[Mousetoescamper]

36. Thanks, people!

[markodochartaigh]

24. I wonder

if the lady with the "Pendejo, No Más Naranja" t shirt has had those pants since the 70's. They seem as sparkling as ever.

[Mousetoescamper]

37. The shirt's prominent in this shot

Her entire attire was fabulous!

[markodochartaigh]

54. I thought that was probably the first word

but I didn't want to write it without being certain.

[Irish_Dem]

25. Fabulous signs and turn out.

[Mousetoescamper]

38. Many creatives and liberals are drawn to my little city

[Irish_Dem]

70. Yes this is apparent from the signs and turn out.

Creative and higher IQ.

[malaise]

26. Fabulous

Rec

[Mousetoescamper]

39. Thanks, malaise!

[LoisB]

27. Fantastic! Those are great pictures and great signs. Let's hear it for Lancaster, PA.

[Mousetoescamper]

42. Thanks, LoisB! Little old Lancaster's got it going on!

[LoisB]

43. Amen!

[Meowmee]

28. Wonderful signs 😀

I’m impressed 👍🏻

My fave: This pussy grabs back 😹

[Mousetoescamper]

47. I was impressed--and I'm accustomed to seeing lots of creativity in my little city!

I first saw that on a sign during the Women's March in Harrisburg in 2017. I posted this here a while back.

[Meowmee]

55. Lol that one wins... I love black cats and anything with cats 😀

[Butterflylady]

30. Allright......Lancaster is a red city and Lancaster County is a red county

So these pictures are wonderful and it makes me so happy.

[Mousetoescamper]

49. Lancaster is a BLUE city in a red county. Our mayor and city council members are Democrats

We've also been designated a Welcoming City for immigrants and refugees. The surrounding county is majority Republican, but we (Democrats) recently won a special election for a state Senate seat in a longtime Republican stronghold bordering the city. The story made national news.

Thanks, Butterflylady!

[Diamond_Dog]

32. What a great collection of photos! TY for sharing with us,Mousetoescamper!

I love seeing all the creative signs and costumes!

[Mousetoescamper]

50. Thanks and you're welcome, Diamond_Dog!

[BumRushDaShow]

34. Lancaster (and its 'burbs) has become the crown jewel of PA (as seen from us here in Philly)

First a new state House seat in 2022 and now a new state Senate seat (from the burbs) that replaced the one previously occupied by the loon Aument.

I was out in Millersville last June for a niece's HS graduation and hadn't been out that way in years. Glad to see them fired up and the slow purpling happening (like what happened to Chester County)!

[Mousetoescamper]

56. That's quite the compliment for my little city, BumRushDaShow!

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, and on behalf of my fellow Lancastrians.

Lancaster City's solid blue, and as you've noted, the suburbs seem to be slowly purpling. James Malone's beating Republican County Commissioner Josh Parsons was surprising and encouraging.

[BumRushDaShow]

69. I have been monitoring there and had posted the below a couple times after the special election

(The city of Lancaster itself is actually in the 13th state Senatorial District)



I was ecstatic when in 2022, Democrats picked up a 2nd state House seat associated with Lancaster City and now am glad we are starting to claw back state Senate seats starting from the same area of the state!!!

A Philly salute to Lancaster!

[MuirHero]

92. We saw significant Republican crossover votes for James Malone in our precinct

The small area of light blue shown in the far-right section of the 2025 PA 36-SD Special Election map is the 3rd Ward Ephrata Boro precinct, which is the only one of four Ephrata Boro precincts that James Malone won.

I am a Dem Committeeperson in this precinct, which has a +20 Republican registration edge. We canvassed heavily in this precinct, which proves that Dems can win in red districts if we reach out to the voters with a compelling message. We know how many Dems voted in our precinct and the numbers clearly show that there were a significant number of Republicans and Independents who voted for Malone to put him over the top.

We now believe that our totally worthless Congressman, Lloyd Smucker (PA 11) can be defeated next year. If we can pull that off it will send shock waves through both the PA GOP and the RNC, given that the PA 11th has been a reliable Republican district for all of its history. This seat was held by Thaddeus Stevens prior to and during the Civil War.

[bucolic_frolic]

35. Bravo! That is rabble rousing photojournalism! /nt

[Mousetoescamper]

57. Thanks, bucolic_frolic!

[woodsprite]

41. So glad there was such an awesome turnout in Lancaster! nt

[Mousetoescamper]

58. There's something in the air nationwide

Thanks, woodsprite!

[Borogove]

45. We had a great turnout in Reading too.

[Mousetoescamper]

59. I'm glad to know that, Borogove! Bravo!

[Renew Deal]

46. These are great pictures but

where are the young people? It's going to take all people to make a difference at the ballot box and it takes the rising generation to make risky decisions on the streets. They need to be bought in and active.

[Mousetoescamper]

60. While the majority were of retirement age, I saw people of all ages attending

I'm glad you liked the photos. Thanks!

[Ilsa]

48. Beautiful! So many great signs! Thank you! nt

[Mousetoescamper]

61. Thanks and you're welcome, Ilsa!

[wordstroken]

51. Awesome signs. So much creativity. Thanks for posting, Mousetoescamper!

[Mousetoescamper]

62. Thanks and you're welcome, wordstroken!

[Ruby the Liberal]

52. Great crowd, awesome pics. Thank you!

[Mousetoescamper]

63. Thanks and you're welcome, Ruby the Liberal!

[CountAllVotes]

53. We The People ... are still here!

& recommend !!!!!

[Mousetoescamper]

64. And we're not backing down!

Thanks, CountAllVotes!

[CountAllVotes]

67. Welcome!

[lucca18]

65. Wow! All your photos are wonderful!!

Thanks for sharing!

[Mousetoescamper]

66. Thanks and you're welcome, lucca18!

[Mousetoescamper]

68. If you post any of my photos in another thread, please give credit to Mousetoescamper and

provide a link to this thread.

I'm gratified that so many of you are enjoying my photos of the Hands Off! protest in Lancaster. I don't sell or watermark my photos, but would like credit for my work on DU. I don't post anything but my own photos here; if you see a photo in any of my posts, you can be certain that it's mine.


As a courtesy, please honor my request.


Thanks for all of the kind comments and recs.

Later,
Mousetoescamper

[Jean Genie]

71. Lancaster, PA

Well done, Lancaster. My beloved horse, Kiku, came to me from East Earl.
If horses could vote, he would have been wearing a sign denouncing the Trumpian regime.
My dearest brother worked (taught school) in Lititz. It has been a sadness for him that a Democrat didn't stand a chance of getting elected in Lancaster Country in more than 100 years!
May the tides be turning. Your march, your protests, were a beautiful thing to see. God bless you all for turning out and peacefully protesting!

[Mousetoescamper]

78. Thanks, Jean Genie!

[58Sunliner]

72. Great signs! Thanks for posting.

[Mousetoescamper]

79. Thanks and you're welcome, 58Sunliner!

[dchill]

73. Thank you for this, Mousetoescamper!

[Mousetoescamper]

80. You're welcome, dchill!

[Unwind Your Mind]

74. Great photos!

I love: Ruth sent me

[Mousetoescamper]

81. Thanks, Unwind Your Mind!

[Martin68]

75. I have a sister who lives near Lancaster. I'll be sharing some of this photos on FB.

[Mousetoescamper]

82. Thanks, Martin68!

[BobTheSubgenius]

76. The Gadsen flag is brilliant!

For a much different reason, I really liked the shirt in one of the first pictures. The one that reminded me of a stained glass window.

[Mousetoescamper]

83. That's my favorite

[BobTheSubgenius]

91. Hi back, from Greater Vancouver!

[Playingmantis]

77. Very nice photos! Thanks for sharing!

[Mousetoescamper]

85. Thanks and you're welcome, Playingmantis!

[gulliver]

84. This will help Trump keep his Republican normie flank at bay.

And it's not going to help us reclaim the normie minorities we lost. It's all white and all culture salad (no meat, no potatoes like inflation, SS, and healthcare).

[AllaN01Bear]

86. ""

[Mousetoescamper]

87. Thanks, AllaN01Bear!

[liberalla]

89. Those are great!

[Mousetoescamper]

93. Thanks, liberalla!

[MuirHero]

90. Thanks Mousetoescamper for posting these great photos!

You've got a great talent for photography. I'm located right up the road from you in Ephrata and have been a Democratic Committeeperson there for 35 years. I'm holding the sign that reads "Lloyd Smucker is aiding and abetting in Trump's lies."

Smucker is totally worthless and has never held an in-person townhall since he was first elected in 2016. While we always assumed that he was unbeatable, the Malone win in our Trump +16 PA Senate District has changed our thinking on that. We're gonna pull out all the stops next year to unseat him.

Also, thanks for updating the turnout number. When we left Penn Square yesterday one of the organizers estimated a turnout of around 2,400, which is awesome for red Lancaster County.

[Mousetoescamper]

94. Thanks and you're welcome, MuirHero!

Hi, neighbor. It was good chatting with you yesterday.

Your sign (and the back of you) made Page A7 of Sunday's LNP!

I supported Jess King's run against Smucker in 2018. She was a great candidate. Smucker labeled her a "socialist" and a threat, which seemed to have stuck with the voters. My significant other and I attended her election-night gathering at Tellus. I worked for Hobie Crystle's campaign for Lancaster County DA in 2019, doing phone banking and neighborhood canvassing. I haven't worked for a campaign since then, but continue donating to our local, state and national candidates.