Hands Off Beverly

07/16/2026

From Andreas:

We can be determined and joyful!

Dear Friends and Fellow Protesters:

As always, I begin by thanking all 144 people who joined our protest last Saturday.

This Saturday marks 17 months since we started our weekly HANDS OFF BEVERLY protests. For all that time, we've managed to leave our anger at this administration at home and enjoy an hour together standing up to it. Jim recently sent me two lines from emails I wrote over a year ago that he said still resonate:

4/27/25: "Anger and frustration is what makes us show up. While there we do not need to be angry. We can be determined and joyful."

5/18/25: "We all show up because we are frankly pi**ed off, angry, outraged, frustrated, etc. with everything Trump. But when we get together on Saturdays we are there for a joyful and positive experience. We are seeing people whom we have been protesting with for months, and new ones who are joining us for the first time. Connections are being made. We all have something in common (can't stand anything Trump) and enjoy each other's company."

That balance, determined but joyful, was tested last Saturday. From early on, a young pro-Trump man named Brendan has attended many of our protests. He brought a Trump flag in the beginning, then stopped, but kept showing up. Our marshals have always been clear: Brendan is welcome as long as he doesn't bother anyone. We're there to protect everyone's right to free speech, including his.

Last Saturday, though, he crossed a line. Possibly emboldened by another counterprotester carrying a Trump flag, Brendan used his phone to take close-up photos of protesters, not to document but to taunt them. One protester held up his sign to block the camera. Brendan came at him and hit the sign which hit the protester in the face. To his credit, the protester didn't hit back, though he is considering pressing charges.

It's a shame it came to this, but it's worth a reminder. Counterprotesters, whether passing by in cars or standing among us, often want a reaction from us, preferably an aggressive one. It feeds the story Trump tells about us, that we're the violent, aggressive ones and they're the ones under attack. Giving in to that provocation only helps make the lie feel true. Our protester didn't give them that. If Brendan returns this Saturday, we'll politely remind him that last Saturday's behavior won't happen again. If it continues, we'll call the police.

Don't take the bait. If someone confronts you, walk away, and if that doesn't resolve it, let a marshal know. If we can't resolve it, we'll call the police. And if your safety is at risk and you need to call the police yourself right away, please do that, no need to wait for a marshal. Nobody in our group should feel threatened, or have a swing taken at them. Obviously.

Speaking of anger, I'm sure you all felt it hearing about the killings of two more people by ICE. In less than a week they killed Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston and Joan Sebastian Guerrero in Biddeford, Maine. As we did for Renee Good and Alex Pretti earlier this year, we will hold a minute of silence to mourn their deaths and to remember their families and friends, at exactly 11:30 am. Immediately before, Jim will again play "Ohio" by Neil Young. When the song ends, the minute of silence will begin.

Another regular from HANDS OFF BEVERLY went to Biddeford yesterday (thank you). When interviewed, he said he is ashamed of his country. He loves this country, but he is ashamed, and then he broke down crying. I feel the same way. I love this country but am ashamed of what it has become in such a short time: the lawlessness, the cruelty, the lack of accountability, the corruption, and the people who, whether unwittingly or with calculation, find nothing wrong with any of it. How is this possible in our beloved country? The reason immigrants have always come here was the promise of the United States of America. The shining beacon on the hill has turned into an unimaginable nightmare of darkness in less than two years. The whole world is watching, and cannot believe it.

Given all this, I think it's fair to expect an emotional protest this Saturday. Let's remember to leave the anger and frustration at home, and bring our joy and compassion for the country we want back. Despite the chance of rain, I hope very much to see many of you there.

With gratitude,

Andreas

07/15/2026

This is an extremely consequential race:

The candidates in the Massachusetts democratic primary race for U.S...

07/10/2026

From Andreas,

HE MAKES EVERYTHING HE TOUCHES WORSE.

Dear Fellow Protesters:


Thank you to the 163 people who found the time and didn't shy away from the heat to stand with us on the 250th birthday of our nation last Saturday. It was a great day!

Growing up as a kid in Hamburg, Germany playing soccer was not a choice, it was a must. Going to see our local professional teams "Hamburger Sports Verein" (HSV) or "St. Pauli" as a teenager was part of what we did. However, not enjoying getting hurt for fun, I was never a good player and when I went to see games it was more because I enjoyed hanging out with my friends drinking beer.

Even though Boston is such a great sports town, my participation is limited to a couple of games per year, again mainly to have a good time with friends. In general I start watching our teams when they are about to win it all. Truthfully I am a pretty lame sports fan. However I am really enjoying the FIFA World Cup. Seeing people coming from all over the world and enjoying themselves in America is wonderful, especially in these times when we have so much to be ashamed of. Having the Scots drink Boston dry was hilarious. Not being known as a great force in soccer it was awesome to see Team USA progress to the knockout stage against Belgium. The US was the underdog especially after Folarin Balogun received the red card for a foul in the previous game against Bosnia and Herzegovina which banned him from playing in the game against Belgium. To be clear I thought that the referee had it all wrong and the red card was not deserved. Everybody I knew who saw the game agreed. A bad call from the referee. However bad calls from referees are as old as the games over which they preside in pretty much all sports. They are part of the drama in sports and when it hits your team it is maddening. Still, for the president of the United States known for his unbridled corruption to call the chief of FIFA known for their unbridled corruption (remember the FIFA Peace Prize?) to get the red card overturned so that Folarin Balogun could play against Belgium just made me sick to my stomach. Sadly the US lost against Belgium 4-1 but had they won their win would have been tainted and this World Cup would have been forever known for its corruption. Besides the obvious corruption it is the irony of this story that seems so crazy. Mr. Balogun was born in the US while his Nigerian parents who lived in London were visiting the US. This is how he received the US citizenship which allowed him to play for the US in the first place. Isn't it rich that Trump has fought birthright citizenship from his early days in politics but saw nothing wrong in using his influence with the chief of FIFA to circumvent FIFA rules for his own advantage? Had the US won, Trump would have taken full credit for it. We all know it! Folarin Balogun is a great soccer player but his resume will now forever contain this sad history. NOT FAIR!

I have written so many emails since we started HANDS OFF BEVERLY 17 months ago but that I would one day be writing about sports had never crossed my mind. Leave it to Trump to make everything he touches worse. Including sports. For the second time now in just a few weeks after making the New York Knicks lose while attending and sleeping during Game 3 against the Spurs.

No wonder there are currently about 40 weekly protests on the North Shore against the horror that is the Trump regime. See this incredible list here under "Protests".

With that in mind I hope to see many of you this Saturday for our HANDS OFF BEVERLY protest. It looks like we will have a sunny morning in the upper 70s to enjoy.

With gratitude,
Andreas

07/05/2026

I know a lot of us feel this way, the ups and the downs. 

07/02/2026

From Andreas:

4TH OF JULY!

Hello Fellow Protesters and Defenders of Democracy:

Thank you to all 137 people who made it to our protest last Saturday. The MAGA guy with his plow Jeep and little boat did not seem to have enjoyed himself the week before as he didn't show up again. Neither did the guy with his Trump flag. Maybe they were disappointed to not have found the violent paid Democrats Trump fantasizes so much about.

With July 4th falling on a Saturday this year we will be celebrating the country's 250th birthday during our one-hour protest. Considering the destruction of our beloved country since the beginning of last year and our steadfast refusal to accept this destruction, let's enjoy each other's company and celebrate not only the 250th birthday but also our commitment to doing our part in our nation's defense.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court doubled down on its disastrous decision known as Citizens United and further cemented corruption in politics with its decision yesterday to lift spending limits on political parties and candidates.

This is exactly why the midterms matter so much. As we get closer, we are hopeful to win back the House and with a good portion of luck, the Senate.

I feel good about many of the new Democrats running for office because they understand that the aim cannot be to get back to what we had before Trump. We will have to rebuild our country with new guardrails to protect us from future attempts to turn America into a kingdom reserved for the ultra wealthy and connected. We will need guardrails to guarantee this country works for everyone regardless of color, religion, race, gender, sexual orientation or financial circumstances. A country where our taxes are spent on what is good for all of us. We need to get back to what our country was founded on 250 years ago and further improve on that. Much work is ahead but I feel optimistic that it will be done.

The weekend weather is forecasted to be oppressively hot. Please keep this in mind when meeting this Saturday. You may want to bring a water bottle. We will have some water but it won't be enough for everybody. If you cannot make it this Saturday I wish you a happy 4th of July and hope to see you soon. For the ones who can make it I look forward to seeing you and spending some time together to protest and celebrate during our one hour of sanity.

With gratitude,

Andreas

06/26/2026

From Andreas: 4th OF JULY IS ON! SAME TIME SAME PLACE! - TRUST TRUMP TO NOT GIVE A DAMN ABOUT YOU!

Hello Fellow Protesters:

As always, thank you to the 146 patriots who stood with us last Saturday. Another beautiful hour of great music, signs, bubbles and candy — and wonderful company.

Some people have asked if we are going to have a protest on July 4th. Yes, we will, and I think it is only fitting given the 250th birthday of the nation we have been fighting to preserve. Beverly is also marking its 400th anniversary this year, so the occasion feels doubly significant.

I fully appreciate that many of us will have plans that day for parties, cookouts and so on, but I think we would make a wonderful statement if we could all show up in force. We have now managed to stand out 72 times in the past 73 weeks — through cold, snow, heat, wind and rain — and didn’t let any of it stand in our way. Going through all of it together only made us stronger and more deeply connected and committed. If you cannot stay for the full hour, consider coming for a shorter time and bringing a friend who shares your views but hasn’t yet joined our protest. What better day than July 4th!

This was another week that showed the Trump mantra: Promise everything, deliver nothing, and blame someone else. And this one: whatever is working, break it.

In a rare moment of Congress showing that it can do its duty to make America better for the people who elected them, both chambers passed a bipartisan Housing Bill — the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act — aiming to produce more new housing to counter the acute shortage across the country. It would have been the most significant piece of housing legislation in 36 years. The House passed it 358–32 and the Senate adopted it 85–5. To get to this point took months of hard work and negotiation, but ultimately both parties got it done — a rare bipartisan achievement, especially in these polarizing times. Trump then refused to sign it because he wants to withhold his signature until Congress passes the SAVE America Act. Basically, he wants life to be harder for Americans until he is permitted to make it harder for Americans to vote.

The SAVE America Act would make it law for anyone wanting to vote to prove their American citizenship — by passport or birth certificate. When I first heard about this I was not sure how it would benefit him or the Republican Party. Did he think Republicans were more likely to have passports? I would think not. Did he think Republicans are more organized than Democrats and would locate their birth certificates more easily? Again, I would think not. So what is his motivation? Then someone at the protest pointed out the obvious. The advantage comes from women who took their husband’s name through marriage, meaning their birth certificate does not match their current name. My question was: wouldn’t that affect women voting Democratic and Republican equally? And here is the catch — the majority of women vote Democratic, which of course makes sense in so many ways. So there you have it. Unless Trump gets to rig the election, he is not in the least interested in making the lives of Americans better. Actually it doesn’t seem he is interested in that at all.

So much more this week points to the sinister nature of Trump and his enablers in government and Congress. The one moment I actually find amusing: the algae-infested Reflection Pool. It is just so endlessly pathetic in its grift (a no-bid contract awarded to friend and Trump donor John Safaro / Greenwater Services), its incompetence, and ultimately the blame placed on mystery vandals. All we “know” about these vandals is that they must be radical leftists likely suffering from severe Trump Derangement Syndrome. This whole ridiculous drama completely embodies Trump: promising unparalleled beauty, delivering crap, and blaming others. In this he is utterly predictable.

IMPORTANT REMINDER: After seeing a few Trump supporters at our recent protests, I want to remind everybody of our motto: Peaceful Protests! These MAGA guys are there to provoke us — they want nothing more than to get us to argue with them. Don’t take the bait and don’t give them that gift. Be friendly, smile, and let them be. They are not there to learn or be converted.

With that in mind, let us unite again this Saturday to enjoy each other’s company and remind others that we are not giving up fighting for our country. We are the patriots!

With gratitude,

Andreas

06/25/2026

This fella gets it. I hope Georgia doesn’t do anything stupid like not reelecting him.

Jon Ossoff is the only Democratic U.S. Senator up for reelection in...

06/19/2026

This is a must have to prevent Trump from trying to violate the Constitution.

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06/18/2026

From Andreas:

When the Bill Comes Due

Hello Friends:

As always, let me begin by saying thank you to the 144 people who showed up to join us for a beautiful day of protest last Saturday. We were also joined by a proud MAGA supporter who had the brilliant idea to park his little jeep (see picture enclosed) complete with a little snow plow and a boat trailer carrying his little boat. I suppose the idea was to take up as much space as possible, to be noticed or to anger us? Some were indeed irritated and wanted him ticketed, since he did his brave act by parking in a 15-minute zone for an hour and a half. I suppose it would have been just, but I personally took pleasure in watching us completely ignore this petty guy. But I did wonder how he felt. Was he really proud of his petty act? I was told that he left immediately after our protest by driving the length of the parking lane and then making a u-turn with the trailer and all. Genius!

I am also wondering how he and other MAGA supporters feel about the Memorandum of Understanding outlining the 14 points of the agreement made between the USA and Iran. My guess is that they won't bother reading it and will instead go with whatever alternate reality Trump, Fox News and other MAGA mouthpieces create to make it look like a good deal, rather than the embarrassment and defeat that it is. As part of this agreement, Israel is to cease its military aggression in Lebanon and end its occupation of the country. I am not hopeful that much will come of it. However, if Trump can get Netanyahu to oblige (which I seriously doubt), then Iran will receive about $26 billion in frozen assets and a $300 billion reconstruction fund. Under the 2015 Obama agreement (the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA), the $1.7 billion given to Iran was called treason by Trump. I think I finally understand the meaning of Trump's Art of the Deal: make everything worse than it was, except to enrich himself and a select few others who are willing to bribe him. In this case the select few will be the elite of the tyrannical Iranian government. The bribe he receives in return is the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the closure of which he engineered. Brilliant!

I notice how small-minded people take pleasure in seeing others suffer because they look or think differently, and take pleasure in watching the cruelty inflicted on them. It worries and saddens me, but I can connect the dots. Our own president is the best example of this. What I still fail to understand is how they can accept their own suffering while being made fools of by the very same people who fed them that pleasure.

This morning I heard on the radio that the Social Security Trust Fund is expected to run out of money in the last quarter of 2032. This is due to decades of neglect and acts by various administrations and Congresses. I knew that Social Security was in trouble, but here are a few things I learned this morning:

1.) After the 2008/9 financial crisis, ushered in by lax banking regulations (now weakened again), it took a long time for large parts of the population to find work again. No job, no paying into the Social Security Fund. This reduced the pool of money going into the fund and created a hole.
2.) Recent tax cuts. Remember the Big Ugly Bill?
3.) The US population is getting older and fewer young people are entering the job market (due to slow population growth), meaning fewer people pay into the fund while more and more older people receive Social Security payments. There was one bright spot, however: immigration, which guaranteed a continuous influx of tax-paying young people into the workforce eager to fulfill their own American Dream. That flow of new people dropped precipitously since Trump took office. Oops, I hope MAGA is not planning on getting old.

My last observation today is the stock market. When cornered with the reality of endless stupidity, grift and incompetence, Trump and his lackeys like to point to the rise of the stock market as a bright spot. Markets have risen under many presidents including Obama and Biden, but Trump has a particular method. He gives trillions of dollars to the very companies listed on the stock market in the form of tax cuts. The US Treasury loses this money and the corporations gain it. What do these companies do with these windfalls? They bank it, buy back stock, and drive up the market even higher. In other words, Trump engineers the rise of the stock market with our tax dollars — money that would be far better spent on our healthcare, the education of our kids, research, clean air and water, and yes, Social Security. Like I said, he always makes things worse for all except for himself and the few who are ready to bribe him.

As always, there is no shortage of reasons for us to meet again this Saturday to enjoy each other's company and express our outrage with the buffoons ruining our country. I hope to see many of you there.

With gratitude,
Andreas

06/17/2026

The FArt of the Deal!!

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