Today marks International Workers’ Day, and some people in the North State are standing behind Social Security workers. That includes those at a rally in Chico this afternoon.
There, people driving by were honking their horns in support of around 300 demonstrators outside of the Social Security office in Chico. The group was protesting the Trump administration’s employment cuts to the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
The demonstration was part of a series of “Hands Off!” events organized by the Defenders of Democracy Coalition. It’s made up of multiple local organizations.
Bill Monroe, with the Democratic Action Club of Chico, said the coalition has been peacefully protesting outside Chico’s Social Security office every Thursday for a few weeks now.
“I’ve heard from somebody who works there, the atmosphere in there is kind of a ‘mmm’ show, and they’re very appreciative of us being out here,” Monroe said.
Laurel Yorks, with the Chico Peace Alliance, said demonstrators want Social Security workers to know they’re supported.
“We know they've been going through rough times, the uncertainty about keeping their jobs and so forth and so so that's why we had it here,” Yorks said.
“If we didn’t get our Social Security, or if they were cut significantly, we would lose our house. We couldn’t pay the mortgage. And I just hate to even think about it.”- Laurel Yorks, organizer with the Chico Peace Alliance
Earlier this year, the Trump administration said it planned to cut about 7,000 jobs from SSA.
As of March, more than 73 million people receive Social Security benefits. According to reporting from NPR, the cuts could increase wait times for people counting on that monetary assistance.
Yorks said both she and her husband use Social Security.
“If we didn't get our Social Security, or if they were cut significantly, we would lose our house,” Yorks said. “We couldn't pay the mortgage. And I just hate to even think about it.”
In Chico, the turnout was the largest the coalition has seen for Social Security focused events.
Additionally, the coalition had thank you cards people could sign that would be given to workers inside the office.
The Oroville Area Resistance also held a simultaneous protest outside of the Oroville office.
