DOGE is gone. But the ‘Hands off our Social Security’ organizer says he has no plans of stopping.
By Ed James III
Original Air Date: April 8, 2026
Host: You may have seen the small band of protesters on your Tuesday morning commute, waving signs on the corner of the South Trail and Siesta Drive, at Sarasota’s Social Security office. Yesterday, the local group of activists celebrated one year of protest. Ed James III was there for the anniversary to talk with the organizer.
Photos by Ed James III
Ed James III: Yesterday, the corner outside the Social Security Administration satellite office was just as busy as it has been every Tuesday for the last year. The traffic was heavy, the sirens were frequent and several protesters were once again in place. What started with a specific focus on the future of Social Security has evolved into a broader protest against the current administration’s domestic and foreign policies. I spoke with Jeff Fox, who organized that very first rally exactly one year ago.
Jeff Fox: This is the first anniversary of a weekly rally that’s been going on for 52 straight weeks now. The intention was to have a grassroots rally coming from the community that was there constantly as opposed to these once-every-few-months giant national rallies. I think we’ve reached probably 120,000 vehicles.
EJ: Fox says the choice of location remains deliberate. While the issues have expanded, the proximity to the Social Security office remains the symbolic core for the group.
JF: When it started a year ago, the first rally was “Hands Off Social Security.” That’s when Elon Musk and his band of bandits were going through the Social Security files or messing around illegally with Social Security files and records and everything. The first rallies—I located the Social Security office, found out that it was actually a very visible location, right outside. That’s how it started for a while. Of course, things developed—other issues arose—we went through “Hands off” and “No Kings” and other things—but it started with that. Now, with the war and all the terrible things he’s doing—attacking voting rights—there’s just so much more.
Kaitlin Bennett, AKA The Gun Lady, interviews a demonstrator.
EJ: The year-long effort hasn’t been without its challenges. Fox mentioned frequent interactions with opposing groups, specifically pointing to the presence of Kaitlin Bennett, better known as “the gun lady,” a right-wing internet personality known for extracting interview clips for social media, who showed up at Tuesday’s rally.
Despite the tension, the group remains undeterred. Also present yesterday was Chris Kilmer, who braved the morning’s rain and thunder to stand with his sign. I asked him why he felt it was necessary to be there.
Chris Kilmer: I came this morning in the rain and thunder because we are at war, no matter what they want to call it. He gave them an ultimatum. He said he was going to end this Iran, whatever. He could be dropping a bomb tonight. He gave them an ultimatum—until 8:00 tonight. That’s why I’m here with my sign.
EJ: For Kilmer, the weekly protest is about more than just one office or one policy; it’s about a fundamental shift in national priorities.
Chris Kilmer
CK: In the name of humanity, we should be spending money on America’s needs, not war needs. Not on flexing our muscles because we have the might—it doesn’t mean we have to use them. We should be spending more money here at home. People don’t have healthcare, they’re not eating. Just so many things—we’ve eliminated the Department of Education—so many things that help people, and now we’re just bombing people.
EJ: As the group heads into their second year, they say they have no plans of slowing down. For these protesters, the goal remains visibility.
JF: This is visibility. This is to drum into people’s consciousness—just like advertising and social networks—drumming into people’s minds that they’re not alone. There are people here, even if we’re in a red state, that are opposing this—that are speaking out about it.
EJ: For WSLR News, I’m Ed James III.
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