Organizers say about 400 participants braved the cold temperatures and windy conditions.
Frederick City Demonstration from Feb. 17th, 2025 (Photos from Chris Michaels)
Frederick, Md (KM) Protesters braved the windy weather and cold temperatures to show their opposition to the actions of the Trump Administration. They gathered on Monday in front of Frederick City Hall for a demonstration.
One of the organizers was local activist Kai Hagen. He said it was a national day of protest in Washington DC, 50 state capitals and cities and towns across the country. “There are literally millions of people who are upset, angry, sad, frustrated, concerned, afraid and want to figure out what they can do to stand up and speak out and say that what’s happening is wrong,” he says.
The Department of Government Efficiency, organized by billionaire Elon Musk, but not authorized by Congress, has been going into federal agencies, claiming it’s rooting out waste and fraud. A number of federal workers on probationary status have been fired.
Judy Murphy from Frederick took part in the demonstration in front of City Hall. She said Musk is accessing personal data from federal agencies without any authorization. “The system of checks and balances is not working. Congress is sitting on their hands, and allowing Trump to appoint someone who is unqualified to go into our very important departments and systems. It’s a danger to the country. They shouldn’t have all of our data,”: she said.
Pattie from Frederick had similar comments about Elon Musk. “Who is Elon Musk, and why is he running our country,” she asks.. “He didn’t win any election. He hasn’t been vetted by anybody. Congress has approved his position. There is real no DOGE department. He just invented that on his own. And I’m concerned that the country is going in the wrong direction. Billionaires should not be running the country.”
Mary Margaret O’Brian is also from Frederick. . “I’m real concerned about the way the country is going in very short order, especially under the auspices of someone who was never elected. We don’t know him, and he certainly doesn’t know us,”: she said.
Organizers say about 400 people took part in the rally. Some of the signs they carried. read “DOGE is dodgy;” “Reject Project 2025;” “Resist the Trump-Musk Coup’” and “Democracy, not Oligarchy.”
By Kevin McManus