On a cold, gray day in Portland, Maine, the city came alive with color, sound, and purpose. Thousands of people flooded Monument Square for the Hands Off rally, standing shoulder to shoulder to defend bodily autonomy, trans rights, free speech, and democracy itself.

As a photographer and a trans man, this moment carried weight. These weren’t just photos to me—this was documentation of community, of courage, of connection. I worked to try and capture the scale of the crowd as it filled monument square and stretched up congress street. I ran up congress, shooting down the street, sidewalks packed to the brim with people spilling onto congress. By the time the rally peaked, all of congress street would be filled in by monument square. 

I knew I had to find a way to show the scale of what was happening. So I made my way up to the second floor of the Portland Public Market, lifted the window open, and captured the crowd stretching as far as the eye could see. That image—of a city rising up together—feels like a pulse. A reminder. It moved me to my core. The image you see below is actually seven vertical images shot on my Sony A7C and stitched together to make this panorama. 

Midway through the rally, I heard over the loudspeakers: “Next up, Senator Angus King.” I didn't hesitate—I grabbed my gear and raced back downstairs, weaving through the tightly packed crowd toward the stage. I arrived just in time to catch a few frames of the Senator addressing the crowd and connecting with folks face to face. Moments like that aren’t just political—they're human.

Everywhere I turned, I saw signs of hope. Literally—painted on poster boards, stitched into flags, written on faces. A local brass band played with fire in their bellies. Elders stood arm in arm with teenagers. Strangers shared handwarmers and smiles.

It’s easy to feel small in the face of so much injustice. But this rally, like so many happening around the country, is a powerful reminder: We are not alone. There are more of us than they want us to believe. And together, we rise.

💥 Let it remind you: you are not powerless. You are not alone. And there’s still so much you can do.

🗳️ Vote in every election
📣 Speak up
📞 Call your reps
📷 Document what’s happening
🤝 Organize locally
🧡 Love each other loudly

And never, ever forget: hope isn’t passive. It’s something we practice.

With love and in solidarity,
benn

*All Photos Copyright Benn Marine, High Res Available for Distribution Upon Request, editorial use permitted if credited to Benn Marine*