PITTSFIELD — As America's 250th anniversary looms, Indivisible Pittsfield aimed to remind residents Saturday about the ideals central to the country's founding and how it says the current administration has not lived up to them.

At least 30 people gathered at the intersection of East and West Housatonic streets and South Street as part of the "All of U.S. 250" national day of action, joining dozens of demonstrations across the country to advocate for liberty, civil rights and birthright citizenship for all.

At least 30 people participated in Indivisible Pittsfield's "All of U.S. 250" national day of action standout at the intersection of West and East Housatonic and South streets on Saturday.

"It's really about liberty and equality and freedoms here in the United States that all have disappeared over the last year and a half," organizer Brian Whitman said. "If one group is marginalized, we all are affected by it."

The national protests accuse Trump's Make America Great Again movement of attempting to "whitewash" history.

"The MAGA regime is in the midst of trying to whitewash our past so they can whitewash our future," a statement from the movement reads. "We can see this in their attempts to not just erase the history of enslavement and genocide, but roll back hard-won civil rights victories."

At least 30 people participated in Indivisible Pittsfield's "All of U.S. 250" national day of action standout at the intersection of West and East Housatonic and South streets on Saturday.

Since taking office, Trump has dismantled federal diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and ordered reviews that led to the removal or alteration of National Park Service exhibits and signs discussing slavery, civil rights, Indigenous history, climate change and other topics critics say present a fuller account of American history.

Whitman said Indivisible's weekly standouts have created a close-knit community among participants. Many at Saturday's standout told The Eagle that they had attended the group's protests regularly since shortly after President Donald Trump was sworn in for his second term.

"We are just so supportive of each other and we've gotten to know each other so well over the past months," he said. "We basically have each other's backs."

At least 30 people participated in Indivisible Pittsfield's "All of U.S. 250" national day of action standout at the intersection of West and East Housatonic and South streets on Saturday.

For Jurian Hughes of Pittsfield, who waved at honking cars with a cowbell while holding a sign that read "Don't give up," attending demonstrations has become a part of her routine.

"The world cannot go on this way," Hughes said.

She attends as many weekend and weekday events as she can.

At least 30 people participated in Indivisible Pittsfield's "All of U.S. 250" national day of action standout at the intersection of West and East Housatonic and South streets on Saturday.

"It's become a centerpiece of my life," she said.

She was grateful for the support of motorists.

"Whenever we get a honk, I cowbell to say 'thank you,'" Hughes said.

Rose Fiscella, a 20-year-old Pittsfield resident and rising junior studying elementary education at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, said she joined the movement in January 2025.

At least 30 people participated in Indivisible Pittsfield's "All of U.S. 250" national day of action standout at the intersection of West and East Housatonic and South streets on Saturday.

"I think I'm one of the youngest people in this group," she said.

Fiscella founded Pittsfield-based Frogs for Freedom, inspired by Portland's Operation Inflation, in which protesters mocked immigration officials by wearing inflatable animal costumes. She is organizing another demonstration at 1 p.m. July 4 in Park Square.

Steven Petrie, 73, of Pittsfield said he has participated with Indivisible for about a year. He said he joined because he was "trying to find some way to slow this mess down" regarding the Trump administration.

At least 30 people participated in Indivisible Pittsfield's "All of U.S. 250" national day of action standout at the intersection of West and East Housatonic and South streets on Saturday.

"[This] protest is about the Supreme Court, liberty and justice, freedom and equality — the things that America is supposed to stand for," Petrie said.

He said protest is a way to "bear witness" to the world's inequalities and a way "to get people to have the courage to do the same thing. To give people permission in a sense."

"It gives expression to a lot of the dissatisfaction and anger that people have."

For Lois Prew of Pittsfield, the issues are deeply personal.

"I just see so many people losing so many rights," she said.

At least 30 people participated in Indivisible Pittsfield's "All of U.S. 250" national day of action standout at the intersection of West and East Housatonic and South streets on Saturday.

Prew, who lives in public housing with her emotional support dog, worries that changing policies could affect her housing. In May, the Trump administration narrowed the definition of "assistance animal," a change housing advocates told The New York Times could put thousands of tenants at risk of eviction.

"I live in public housing with my emotional support dog," she said. "And now I find myself having to go through the stressful process of making him my service dog because I can't live without him. He's my little buddy."

Others connected Saturday's demonstration to the nation's upcoming 250th anniversary.

"We're trying to celebrate the 250th in a correct way," David Chapman of Pittsfield said.

"In a way that's appropriate for the Constitution and all the freedoms we've gained when we gained our independence."

At least 30 people participated in Indivisible Pittsfield's "All of U.S. 250" national day of action standout at the intersection of West and East Housatonic and South streets on Saturday.

He said continuing conversations about democracy will be key ahead of November's midterms.

"Keep people aware. Keep people talking. That's how we're going to solve this thing," Chapman said. "We've got to really concentrate on the vote."

Nancy and Tom Tarjick, who have attended Indivisible protests for about a year, said the weekly demonstrations have fostered a sense of community.

"It's really important to keep our spirits up and see other people," Nancy Tarjick said.

The group also meets monthly to discuss issues affecting democracy.

For participants Saturday, however, persistence was top of mind.

"Every day there's hope and every day there's not hope," Chapman said.