What Is the ‘Hands Off!’ Protest? Why Americans Are Marching in All 50 States Against Trump and Musk
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On Saturday, April 5, 2025, Americans in all 50 states joined forces in a sweeping national protest dubbed the “Hands Off!” movement, denouncing President Donald Trump’s sweeping federal rollbacks and the rising influence of his controversial advisor, tech billionaire Elon Musk.
More than 1,200 protests were organized by over 150 groups—ranging from civil rights advocates and union organizers to veterans, LGBTQ+ leaders, and immigrant rights defenders. The turnout was massive: thousands marched in Washington, D.C., New York City, Boston, Chicago, and Los Angeles, with solidarity protests reported in London, Berlin, Paris, and Toronto.
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| “Hands Off” Protests Against Trump and Musk Kick Off on Saturday Across All 50 States |
What Sparked the 'Hands Off!' Uprising?
The protest was ignited by a string of rapid and aggressive reforms carried out within the first few months of Trump’s second term, many led by Musk, now head of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The department has slashed federal staff, closed agencies, and proposed cuts to programs like Social Security, Medicare, education, and public health.
“They’re not reforming. They’re dismantling,” said Senator Raphael Warnock during the Washington rally. “This is not about efficiency. It’s about erasure—of rights, of voices, of protections.”
The Core Issues Protesters Are Rallying Around
1. Federal Downsizing
Thousands of federal workers have been laid off. Entire departments, such as the Department of Education, face closure. Musk claims these moves will save billions in taxpayer money. Critics say the long-term cost is democracy itself.
2. Cuts to Social Services
Planned cuts to Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare have outraged seniors, veterans, and working-class Americans.
“Hands off our Social Security!” was among the most common slogans seen coast to coast.
3. Civil Rights and Human Dignity
Advocacy groups condemned the rollback of protections for transgender individuals, immigrants, and communities of color.
At the rally on the National Mall, Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign, declared:
“They’re criminalizing our families, banning our books, erasing our histories. We’re here to say: not on our watch.”
Scenes From the Streets
In Seattle, demonstrators marched under the shadow of the Space Needle, waving signs reading “Fight the oligarchy” and “Democracy, not dictatorship.”
In Boston, Mayor Michelle Wu told the crowd, “I refuse to let my children grow up in a country where diversity is feared and immigrants are scapegoated.”
In Columbus, Ohio, retiree Roger Broom, once a Reagan Republican, stood in protest:
“Trump’s not conservative. He’s authoritarian. He’s tearing the country apart.”
In Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, protesters lined both sides of PGA Drive, just miles from Trump’s golf course.
“They need to keep their hands off everything from our health care to our democracy,” said Archer Moran of Port St. Lucie.
Trump and Musk Fire Back
The White House responded with a statement dismissing the protests:
“President Trump has always pledged to protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid for eligible Americans,” it read.
The administration accused Democrats of wanting to extend those benefits to undocumented immigrants, claiming such a move would “bankrupt the system and hurt American seniors.”
Meanwhile, Elon Musk, who has emerged as a central—and polarizing—figure in the administration, tweeted:
“Cutting wasteful spending is not oppression. It's leadership. Protest all you want. Progress doesn't pause.”
Momentum, History, and What’s Next
This protest marks the largest mobilization since the 2017 Women’s March and the 2020 Black Lives Matter demonstrations. But unlike those, "Hands Off!" includes a wider coalition: workers, veterans, teachers, parents, students, and tech critics alike.
Protesters insist this is only the beginning.
“This is not a moment. It’s a movement,” said Britt Castillo, a teacher protesting in Charlotte, North Carolina.
“The system may be broken, but this administration is smashing it. And we’re here to fight for what matters—our rights, our future, our country.”
Organizers are planning continued actions, voter mobilization efforts ahead of the midterms, and a second mass protest for July 4, aiming to reclaim what they call “the true promise of America.”
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