In numerous locations throughout the United States and abroad, widespread “Hands Off” protests erupted on Saturday, marking the most significant public condemnation to date of President Donald Trump and his chief associate Elon Musk’s aggressive actions against the federal government. These actions, characterized by economic disruption, prioritize the desires of authoritarian and wealthy right-wing figures over the needs of working families.<\/p>\n
Indivisible, a major organizer of the day’s events, reported that millions of people turned out for over 1,300 separate rallies to demand a halt to Trump’s authoritarian maneuvers and to denounce all collaborators.<\/p>\n
“We anticipated hundreds of thousands. However, the attendance at nearly every event surpassed our expectations,” the organization noted in their Saturday evening press release.<\/p>\n
“Hands off our healthcare, hands off our civil rights, hands off our schools, our freedoms, and our democracy.”<\/p>\n
“This has been the largest day of protest since Trump was reelected,” the statement continued. “Even in many smaller towns and cities, activists reported the largest demonstrations ever seen, sending a direct and clear message to Trump and Musk: Hands off our healthcare, hands off our civil rights, hands off our schools, our freedoms, and our democracy.”<\/p>\n
According to the organizers’ rallying cry:<\/p>\n
\n “They are tearing apart our country. They\u2019re plundering our government. And they think we’ll just stand by.
<\/strong>
On Saturday, April 5th, we rise up with one demand: Hands Off!<\/strong><\/p>\nThis is a nationwide mobilization to confront the most audacious power grab in recent history. Trump, Musk, and their billionaire allies are executing a full-scale assault on our government, our economy, and our basic rights\u2014facilitated at every step by Congress. They aim to dismantle America piece by piece\u2014closing Social Security offices, dismissing crucial workers, scrapping consumer protections, and slashing Medicaid\u2014all to fund their billionaire tax scam. <\/p>\n
They’re surrendering our tax dollars, our public services, and our democracy to the ultra-rich. If we don’t stand up now, there won\u2019t be anything left to save.”\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
The over 1,300 “Hands Off!” demonstrations\u2014organized by a broad coalition of labor unions, progressive advocacy groups, and pro-democracy organizations\u2014began early Saturday in Europe, followed by events on the U.S. East Coast, and continued throughout the day in various locations.<\/p>\n
“The United States has a president, not a king,” stated People’s Action, one of the participating groups, in a morning email to supporters as the protests commenced across hundreds of cities. “Donald Trump has been acting in every way like he wants to be king. He has positioned himself above the courts, Congress, and the American people.”<\/p>\n
In their evening statement, Indivisible highlighted that the day’s actions significantly exceeded expectations and should be seen as a watershed moment in the effort to resist Trump and his allies:<\/p>\n
\n “The Trump administration has spent its first 75 days trying to overwhelm us, to make us feel powerless, so that we fall in line, accept the pillaging of our government, the depletion of our social safety net, and the dismantling of our democracy. <\/p>\n
Too often, the reaction from our leaders and those in positions to resist has been sheer cowardice. Compliance. Submitting in advance. <\/p>\n
Not today. Today, we’ve shown a different way forward. We’ve exemplified the bravery and action that we expect from our leaders, demonstrating to all those who’ve been hesitant but share our values that they are not alone.”\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Highlighting the Republican president’s pursuit of “power and greed,” People’s Action earlier explained the necessity for organized resistance against the administration, particularly after a week marked by economic turmoil triggered by Trump’s tariff announcements, ongoing assaults on the rule of law, and the president’s own admission that he was “not joking” about seeking a third term, despite constitutional constraints.<\/p>\n
“He is wrecking the economy with tariffs to finance tax cuts that will enrich himself and his billionaire friends,” People’s Action cautioned. “He has directed the government to detain innocent people from the streets and place them in detention centers without due process for exercising their First Amendment rights. And he is far from finished\u2014by his own admission, he plans to run for a third term, which the Constitution does not permit.”<\/p>\n
Live stream of Hands Off rally in Washington, D.C.:<\/strong><\/p>\n
Photos and videos from demonstrations worldwide are continually being updated. Check back for more…<\/p>\n
Organizers of the protest warn that Trump and Musk’s actions constitute “not merely corruption or mismanagement” but something significantly more dangerous.<\/p>\n
“This is a hostile takeover,” they declared, but pledged to resist. “This is the moment we say NO. No more looting, no more theft, no more billionaires pillaging our government while working people struggle to make ends meet.”<\/p>\n