On Saturday, coordinated protests against President Donald Trump’s attempts to overhaul the federal government took place across the country. According to the organizers of the new “Hands Off!” movement, hundreds of thousands of protesters had RSVPed to take part in protests, which were held throughout the day in major cities and small towns across the country. The protests quickly became the largest demonstrations since Trump began his second term. By Saturday afternoon, thousands of protesters had taken to the streets.
Grassroots Group Organized the Events
The gatherings were organized by a grassroots group, and according to the group’s website, it is “a nationwide mobilization to stop the most brazen power grab in modern history.” Organizers say that the demonstrations have different focuses and goals depending on the group or groups organizing them. Organizers added that even small gatherings in red states contributed to the big goal of getting others to resist.
Here is Where Hands Off! Protests Took Place
Across all 50 states, thousands took to the streets to take a stand or march over the weekend. Some of the major cities hosting protests include: Chicago, IL, Miami, FL, Pensacola, FL, Boston, MA, New Orleans, LA, Dallas, TX, Los Angeles, CA, Salt Lake City, UT, Bozeman, MT, Bismarck, ND, Grand Rapids, MI, Burlington, VT.
The protests held in Washington, D.C., were the largest. The protests on Saturday, April 5, outside the Washington Monument started at noon and ran until 3:30. Other events across the country had different start times.
Here is Why the Protests are Taking Place
Many people gathered to resist because of billionaire Elon Musk’s role in the Trump administration, as well as federal workforce layoffs, and the loss of rights to transgender people and immigrants. “Hands Off!” organizers referred to Trump and Musk’s leadership as an “illegal takeover” as well as a “national crisis.” Organizers did not share if future protests were being planned.
Here is how Trump has reacted to the Protests
The protests, according to the White House, in no way deterred any efforts by the Trump administration. “Anyone who thinks protests, lawsuits, and lawfare will deter President Trump must have been sleeping under a rock for the past several years. President Trump will not be deterred from delivering on the promises he made to make our federal government more efficient and more accountable to the hardworking American taxpayers across the country who overwhelmingly re-elected him,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
Due to the organized events, the White House’s annual spring garden tour had to be rescheduled from Saturday to Sunday, the office of First Lady Melania Trump announced. While the resistance took place, Trump was in Florida at his resort, Mar-a-Lago. He spent much of his day on the golf course and planning a meeting with top LIV Golf figures. It also appeared that President Trump was trying to get a reaction from protesters by using social media. On Friday, he used his Truth Social to post, “This is a great time to get rich.”
