SOUTH HADLEY—Western Mass joined Saturday’s nationwide protests against the dismantling of government, the Constitution and now the economy under Donald Trump and his ostensible vizier Elon Musk. Layoffs at federal agencies, including at Social Security, has raised public anger, provoking one of the largest rounds of demonstrations since Inauguration Day.

Residents in the 413 demonstrated throughout Valley including in Amherst, Easthampton, Granby, Northampton and Wilbraham. Others joined protests just over the line in Enfield. In Massachusetts, Boston hosted the largest rally against Trump and Musk’s regime was in Boston, drawing Senator Ed Markey. With the GOP tax bill again lurching through Congress, Springfield Congressman Richard Neal joined protesters here to lay out its consequences.

“I think people are really feeling these proposed cuts, and I think the callousness, the cruelty with which they’re being embraced and implemented by the Trump administration makes no sense,” Neal told reporters after speaking.

In comparison to 2017, protests may seem to have become a smaller response to Trump this time around. However, that is not entirely true. While the 2017 Women’s March broke historical records for protests, actions since Trump returned in January have been more numerous and disbursed. This is apart from the angry town halls that have faced federal officials of both parties. April 5 was perhaps just the largest and spread the most widely.

That was certainly the case in the 413. Several actions have taken place in Springfield already. One is planned for Thursday to protest the cuts Musk and Trump are implementing at Social Security.

Many smaller protests on the same day in a given area differs from big Trump I demonstrations. For example, on January 21, 2017, Northampton and Boston were the principal nodes for the Women’s March.

And there is much to protest.

Neal told reporters that Democrats, who do not control Congress, have to underscore what Trump, Musk and Republicans are doing.

“When you’re in the minority, your job is to depict a contrast with the majority, and I think we’ve done a pretty good job on Medicare, Social Security and Medicaid for that,” he said.

Social Security HQ in Maryland. Reports suggest the wires the Muskovites have pulled from the wall have left the agency reeling. (via ssa.gov)

Neal is the top Democrat on the House Ways & Means Committee, which had jurisdiction over all three programs. He also highlighted the impacts on veterans services.

Thus far, the GOP has not succeeded in cutting Medicaid and Medicare. However, Trump and Musk disrupted payments earlier in the year. However, Musk’s goons have been demanding the Social Security Administration gut customer service and staff.

“The point here that’s critical to remember, is that what they will do is they’ll cut these offices, and then when the phones aren’t answered and people can’t visit with them, they’ll say, ‘oh, this proves the government doesn’t work,’ and then they cut the program,’ Neal said.

To counter that, people needed to stand together as they were on April 5. That helps underscore what the administration is trying to do.

On some level, perhaps, it is having an effect. On Wednesday, Social Security Administration backed down on a plan to end phone services for taxpayers and retirees.