Christina Welch of Cornelius attended the march April 5

April 6. By Dave Yochum. Hundreds of people from Cornelius, as well as all around North Mecklenburg and as far as Salisbury crowded the Veteran’s Monument near Town Hall before marching peacefully to protest President Trump and presidential adviser Elon Musk.

The people came in all stripes and colors, from lakefront homeowners to veterans, women young and not-so-young, business owners and children toted by young parents.

Cornelius hosted one of hundreds if not thousands of “Hands Off” rallies yesterday in all 50 states, including an even larger one in Charlotte where the crowd was estimated at 3,000.

Viet Nam veteran Bob Doran of Davidson

Just a few feet from the Veterans Monument at Rotary Plaza in Cornelius, Viet Nam veteran Bob Doran carried a sign that said “Hands off Veterans Benefits. We Earned Them.”

Marchers waving anti-Trump flags denounced deportation efforts, defunding public health, escalating tariffs, eliminating DEI and the Administration’s threats to Social Security.

Donna Hatfield, a Cornelius senior, carried a hand-crafted sign that said “Hands Off Social Security.”

Organizers say Saturday was the largest single day of demonstrations against President Trump and Musk. The Washington Post said the crowd on the National Mall stretched as “far as the eye could see” from all sides of the stage.

In Cornelius, protestors marched two and three abreast, stretching from Town Hall to the Community Garden just west of Smithville Park. Cornelius Police said there were 500 marchers.

UPDATE: Cornelius Police now say some 800 people attended.

Donna Hatfield of Cornelius marched on April 5

Protest march on April 5