National Park Service staffing cuts prompted off-duty rangers and residents to protest at national parks nationwide, including Joshua Tree and the Santa Monica Mountains.

As a steady stream of people marched through Yosemite National Park, homemade signs held high over their heads, they echoed a single unifying message: “Protect our parks.”

From Acadia in Maine to Joshua Tree in Southern California, protesters turned out to stand up against what they see as threats to public lands.

Sen. Susan Collins says she will be working with the secretary of the interior on problems caused by the freeze and layoffs.

Protesters are calling on the federal government to rehire recently fired National Park Service employees. Demonstrators met at the Roger Williams National Memorial in Providence on Saturday. Providence protesters held signs and chanted,