STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

Those concerned about their country and fellow citizens are invited to move “Not left, not right, but forward, together” during the Hands Off! Public Rally being held Saturday at Hop Porter Park in Hailey.

The rally will start at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, May 17, and end at 1:30 p.m. Rallygoers are invited to bring their most creative sign, a lawn chair and a friend as they join hands metaphorically with rallies being held across the country on Saturday.

The event will include the singing of the National Anthem by Cookie Cook and the original songs “Real Man” and “Hands Off” along with a Cosby Stills & Nash classic by Cliff Cuhna and his band.

Featured speakers will be Audra Serrian, a Forest Service and National Federation of Federal Employees Union steward; community activist Herbert Romero and Gini Ballou of the Idaho Democratic Women’s Caucus.

Rallygoers who wish to share what’s on their mind will also be given the mic for a minute or two before rallygoers march to Main Street.

The rally is being held to champion a variety of things, including due process, civil rights, human rights, U.S. constitution, Veterans services, immigrants, Medicare and Medicaid, medical research public lands and public land employees, reproductive rights and the environment.