We were among several thousand Mainers who participated in the Hands Off! rallies around the state on Saturday, April 5. It was an emotional moment to see so many people protesting against the nation’s move toward autocracy and demanding that the people rule, not the billionaires. Sen. Angus King, who spoke in Portland, was awesome.

But we believe these rallies should be seen as a first stage to defeating the move to an autocracy. To fight the billionaires takes cash and an organization to spend it productively.

There are various estimates of how many people turned out for the rallies around the state. But if we were to take a round number of 5,000, and each of those 5,000 protesters were to contribute $5 a month to the Maine Democratic Party or the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, that would be $25,000 a month or $300,000 a year. A $5 donation on ActBlue is cheaper than a Starbucks Frappuccino or a McDonald’s Big Mac.

But don’t stop with the $5 donation. Mainers should contribute more if they can afford it, but also volunteer with the Maine Democrats to reach out to the people, especially in the months before the next election.

Hands Off! is a great start. Let’s win at the finish line.

Richard Buhr and Cathy Coffman
Saco