Every week, part-time statistician and Baltimore County resident Chistopher Morrell buttons his coat to protest President Donald Trump’s policies at the intersection of Joppa, Belair, and Ebenezer roads in Perry Hall.
Christopher Morrell is just one of many older adults who hold up signs reading phrases like ‘ICE is for cocktails’ and ‘Take back the House’ to cars passing by. For more than six months, he and other elders have been protesting to try to sway the public towards voting democratically.
No matter the weather, the protesters hope to raise awareness about the lack of civil liberties and individual rights they believe exist in the government today. Their main goals are to make everyone who drives by aware of the current injustices happening in America and to make change.
Christopher Morrell grew up during the apartheid, a brutal time of racial segregation in South Africa. His advocacy days began when he collected signatures in support of Nelson Mandela while he was in prison before being elected as the first Black president of South Africa.
Today, Christopher Morrell’s social justice days are far from over. Together he and his wife, Claudia Morell, knew that they wanted to start their own form of protest. As a result, the Sign Waves Wednesday Movement was born.
“Things are not working properly and you know, so often I hold a sign that says ‘Defend Democracy’ because, to me, that’s real. If things were working properly and Congress had spines, they wouldn’t let Trump do the things he’s been doing,” Christopher Morell said.
The protest leader believes it’s the people’s duty to show the government what they want. Morrell is not waiting for things to change. Rather, he and his wife are going to become the change they want to see.
Claudia Morrell believes protesting is essential for the nation’s future.
“Don’t think we’re immune from becoming one of those countries that are dictator led, because if there’s nothing to stop it, what will stop it from becoming the United States? I mean, even Rome fell,” Claudia Morrell said.
Back in Baltimore City, on Roland Avenue and West 40th Street, the retirement community at Roland Park Place carries on the Sign Waves protest. Retired Professor of Sociology from Johns Hopkins University Karl Alexander started a campaign to write letters in support for Democratic candidates.
“We want to win back the presidency. We love to have the trifecta in 2028 with the Democratic presidency, House, and the Senate,” Alexander said.
In the interim, he assembled others to take further action. Starting on March 12, 2025, Alexander started his own Sign Wave movement. He created different protesting signs and hit the street corners.
With support of the citizens of Roland Park Place, they have protested every week no matter the weather. The protesters show the cars passing by what changes they want to see in the government. Alexander said it’s time to take action and protesting is the first step.
“We can start to work on the huge challenge of undoing a lot of damage that’s been done,” Alexander said.
The Sign Waves occur every Wednesday in various intersections in Baltimore. To find a protest, go to the Mobilize website for more information on how to get involved.