“Hands Off!” protests took place across the country on April 5th, marking one of the most significant days of dissent since President Trump has returned to office. Organized by a coalition of civil rights groups, labor unions, and advocacy organizations, the “Hands Off!” protests decried multiple of Trump and advisor, Elon Musk’s policies.
An estimated millions of individuals participated in 1,300 “Hands Off!” protests globally. Large turnouts were noted in cities such as Washington D.C, New York City, Raleigh, Portland, and Chicago. Protestors gathered at the National Mall in Washington D.C, displaying signs and chanting slogans that reflected their concerns.
The protests addressed a broad list of grievances against Trump, and Musk, who heads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Demonstrators voiced opposition to federal budget cuts, mass-firings, and attempts to dismantle the Department of Education. Concerns were also raised regarding LGBTQ+ and immigrant rights, climate policy rollbacks, reproductive rights, and defunding of services like Medicaid and Social Security.
The “Hands Off!” movement was orchestrated by a team of several organizations, including MoveOn, Indivisible, the American Civil Liberties Union, the League of Women Voters, and others. In a statement, the coalition emphasized the importance of peaceful resistance in order to evoke change. They called for an end to what they perceived as a “billionaire takeover” of the government, and urged for the protection of public services.
“They’re taking everything they can get their hands on—our health care, our data, our jobs, our services—and daring the world to stop them,” the organizers said in a statement. “This is a crisis, and the time to act is now.”
In response to the nationwide “Hands Off!” protests, the White House issued a formal statement emphasizing Trump’s commitment to safeguarding federal benefit programs.:
“President Trump’s position is clear, he will always protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid for eligible beneficiaries. Meanwhile, the Democrats’ stance is giving benefits to illegal aliens, which will bankrupt these programs and crush American seniors.”
The “Hands Off!” protests represent a significant moment of civic engagement and public dissent in the United States. As the nation continues to navigate the growing tension in modern politics, the impact of such widespread demonstrations on future policy decisions continues to be seen.
