“Hands Along High Street” hopes that Columbus residents will connect, physically, to oppose recent actions by the Trump administration. The demonstration, scheduled for Saturday, August 9, was organized by Indivisible Central Ohio and the Westerville Progressive Alliance.
The demonstration, inspired by 1986’s “Hands Across America” seeks to link the Short North and Worthington, all along High Street, via a human chain.
Organizer for the Westerville Progressive Alliance, Bill Woods, said that he and his wife, Linda, have had the idea for months. He hopes the demonstration will deliver “the message that the people of central Ohio stand united for fundamental American values that are being dismantled right before our eyes.”
The line has been organized into 27 sections, with each section having an activist group attached to make sure the line is filled and connected. Woods said the groups involved range from unions to civil rights organizations.
Woods is also anticipating a large turnout, citing online registration numbers. The number of people he estimated is needed to link the Short North and Worthington would be about 8,000.
“We are seeing a tremendous surge of people. And those people are turning out because we have distributed what we call our Statement Values. That encompasses many of the principles that are bringing people together for this event,” he said.
The group's Statement Values include opposing cuts to Medicaid and the National Weather Service, and supporting rights of immigrants.
The event begins at 2 p.m. on Saturday, and is set to end at 3:30pm.