Mark Krivchenia expresses his concern with recent cuts to the AmeriCorps service programs during a protest Saturday at Muskingum Park in Marietta. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

MARIETTA — Despite heavy rains, more than 100 protestors gathered Saturday afternoon at the Muskingum Park Gazebo for a “Day of Action” rally, focusing on support for AmeriCorps programs and the rights of federal workers.

The event included speeches, live music and community members’ and advocacy organizations’ calls to action.

The rally was part of a nationwide effort to draw attention to recent changes impacting AmeriCorps and other national service programs. Mark Krivchenia, a longtime Marietta resident and Friends of the Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge president, shared how a planned volunteer project on Buckley Island was disrupted after the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps team assigned to the area was demobilized shortly after arrival. The team, which had previously assisted with hurricane recovery and trail building across the Southeast, was expected to stay for a month but left after one week.

“These were young people doing valuable community service,” said Krivchenia. “They were helping with tree planting and building educational trails.”

According to Krivchenia, a large portion of AmeriCorps’ national staff has been laid off and hundreds of millions of dollars in grant funding have been reduced. The crowd was encouraged to contact elected representatives and visit the nonprofit advocacy website Voices for National Service for more information.

Eric Engle, center, addresses the National Treasury Employees Union’s concerns surrounding the current presidential administration during a protest Saturday at Muskingum Park in Marietta. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

Following the opening remarks, local musician Sherm Koons performed original songs about environmental protection and community resilience. One song, titled “Frack Man,” highlighted concerns about proposed fracking activities in Wayne National Forest.

“We’re not going to let them do it,” Koons said before beginning the performance, referencing ongoing resistance to natural gas development in public lands.

Eric Engle, chief steward of National Treasury Employees Union Chapter 190 that represents some workers at the Bureau of the Fiscal Service in Parkersburg, shared concerns over executive orders and changes to federal work policies, including reductions in telework options and alternative work schedules, and the broader impact of recent administrative changes.

“The current administration’s policies are undermining the workforce that keeps our government functioning,” he said.

Engle went on to say that the implementation of executive orders restricting telework and flexible work schedules has led to frustration and burnout among many federal workers.

Sherm Koons sings folk protest songs during Saturday afternoon’s protest at Muskingum Park in Marietta. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

“The flexibility that many federal employees once had allowed them to balance their personal lives with their professional responsibilities,” he said. “Now, they are being forced back into rigid schedules, which causes unnecessary stress.”

Engle also addressed the growing trend of early retirements and staff reductions, which they attributed to the challenging work environment created by these policy changes.

“We’ve seen a significant increase in the number of federal employees who are leaving their positions early because they simply can’t take the pressure anymore,” he said. “These cuts are detrimental to the efficient operation of our government, and they affect every citizen who relies on federal services.”

Following the speeches, protesters marched across the Putnam Street Bridge.

Gwen Sour can be reached at gsour@newsandsentinel.com.