Edmonds was among many cities across the U.S. that held Hands Off! protests Saturday afternoon, giving participants a chance to express concerns about federal public service cuts, mass layoffs and other policies that they believe are negatively impacting the economy and government.
More than 2,000 people attended the Edmonds protest at Edmonds Civic Center Park, which was emceed by European travel guide, activist and Edmonds resident Rick Steves.
The organizers of Hands Off! Edmonds — Roxie Harte, Kate Wells and Laurel Erlich — had three days to coordinate the event. They sought assistance from Steves, who was in Istanbul at the time.
Undaunted that Steves was thousands of miles aways, Harte said she contacted his office and asked, “When will he be back?”…