Demonstrators gather on sidewalks in front of Solvang Veterans Memorial Hall on Mission Drive
On a busy weekend in Solvang, a number of Santa Ynez Valley demonstrators gathered along Mission Drive in front of the Veterans Memorial Hall to participate in a national day of protest on Saturday, April 5.
The protest, referred to as “Hands Off,” was against the recent policies of President Donald Trump, including newly imposed global tariffs, cuts to government agencies and federal workforce, and raids to round up undocumented immigrants, among other policies made by the president after his reelection in 2024.
According to the Associated Press, demonstrations were organized for more than 1,400 locations in all 50 states, with an estimated 3 million participating.
Among the ones on the Central Coast was the one in Solvang (there were also demonstrations in Santa Barbara and Lompoc) spearheaded by Solvang resident Christine Pickavet, with help from Santa Ynez resident Leslie Churchfield.
“I wanted to go to Santa Barbara, and I saw there was one in Lompoc, but I knew we had a strong presence of people here in Solvang to do one,” Pickavet said. “So I contacted Leslie, and we got the word out.”
Pickavet said she organized the demonstration mainly to give people a voice, and there was no one issue over the others that prompted her to protest.
“We wanted something here in Solvang for local representation for our voices, because I think it can lean the other way sometimes,” she said. “I just wanted everyone who shares our perspective to know that they’re not alone here in the Valley, and I knew it could gather even if it was just Leslie and I on the corner.”
Plans for the protest were curtailed somewhat by the Bricks and Builds weekend-long event, which was an inaugualconvention for Lego builders and enthusiasts. Organizers had reportedly sought to use Solvang Park, but the Bricks and Builds already had activities and entertainment set up there. The protesters gathered instead at Mission Drive in front of the Veterans Hall, which was the main location of the Lego event.
Most demonstrators had handmade signs that they held up for passing motorists to see, many playing off the “Hands Off” idea, and others referring to more specific subjects, like the tariffs, governmental cuts, immigration, and LBGTQ+ issues. Motorists could be heard sounding their horns, presumably in support, as they passed the protesters.
“The reactions from people passing by has been very positive,” Churchfield said. “We’re getting a lot of honks.”
While the more than 100 protesters had a few issues to protest, Nancy Dale of Solvang said it all stemmed from what she thought the federal government was becoming.
“With who’s in charge now, I feel the government is becoming autocratic, and that really scares me,” she said.
Amy Derryberry of Solvang, who came to the demonstration with Dale, agreed, saying, “I think it’s become a power grab that’s unconstitutional and with all of [Trump’s] that are completely not qualified for any of the offices that they’reat.”
Ultimately, for Churchfield and other protesters, it was the satisfaction of being a part of something bigger, and letting her voice be heard.
“We’re taking part here, but it’s the National Day of Protest, and we’re standing strong with apparently two and a half million other Americans, and that feels good,” she said.
