Hands Off Protests 2025

On Saturday, April 5, 2025, coordinated “Hands Off” protests were held on the widest scale possible across the United States and abroad. These demonstrations marked the largest public condemnation to date of President Donald Trump and his top aide, Elon Musk. The “Hands Off” protests were in response to attacks on the federal government’s structure and programs of economic sabotage that sacrifice the needs of working families for authoritarianism and the greed of right-wing oligarchs.“Indivisible,” meaning indivisible and inseparable, one of the key organizing groups for these protests, announced that millions participated in over 1,300 rallies, demanding an “end to Trump’s authoritarian attempt to seize power” and condemning all those who support it. In a statement on Saturday evening, the group said: “We expected hundreds of thousands, but in nearly every event, the crowds exceeded our estimates.”

The group added: “Today was the largest day of protest since Trump’s return to power. In many small and large cities, activists reported that these were the biggest protests their communities had ever seen. People sent a clear and undeniable message to Trump and Musk: Hands off our health, our civil rights, our schools, our freedoms, and our democracy.”

Organizers’ Call and Statements for the Protests

They’re driving our country toward collapse. They’ve looted our government and think we’ll just stand by and watch!

On Saturday, April 5, we will rise with a single demand: “Hands Off!” This is a nationwide mobilization to stop the most ambitious power grab that modern history has ever seen. Trump, Musk, and their corrupt billionaire cronies have launched all-out attacks on our government, economy, and basic rights, with Congress supporting them every step of the way. Because they want to tear America apart: shut down Social Security offices, fire essential workers (like healthcare providers or emergency responders), eliminate consumer protections, and destroy Medicaid (the healthcare program for low-income individuals). All of this to fund billionaire tax scams. They’re giving our tax dollars, our public services, and our democracy to the ultra-rich. If we don’t fight for our rights now, there will be nothing left to save.

Wave of Protests Begins in Europe: “Trump Is No Longer Accountable”

Over 1,300 “Hands Off” rallies, organized by a broad coalition of unions, progressive advocacy groups, and pro-democracy watchdogs, started in Europe before spreading to East Coast communities in the United States.

“People’s Action,” one of the participating groups in these efforts, emphasized in an email to its supporters: “The United States has a president, not a king. Donald Trump has tried in every way to turn himself into a king. He is no longer accountable to the courts, Congress, or the American people.”

“Indivisible” stated in its Saturday evening announcement that these protests exceeded their expectations and should be seen as a turning point in the battle to stop Trump and his minions: “In its first 75 days, the Trump administration tried to exhaust us and make us feel powerless, then line up behind him, and become complicit in his looting of our government, destruction of the social safety net (government services to help the poor, unemployed, and sick), and dismantling of democracy. And unfortunately, the response from many leaders and those who could resist has often been fear and surrender—preemptive obedience without resistance.

But today, we’re not standing idly by anymore. Today, we showed a different path forward. We modeled the courage and action we expect from our leaders and showed everyone on the sidelines that they are not alone.”

Widespread Public Embrace of the Protests

“People’s Action,” referring to “Trump’s thirst for power and greed,” explained why organized pressure must be maintained against this administration. Especially after a week where the global economy was disrupted due to Trump’s tariff announcements, his continued assault on the rule of law, and the two-term president’s admission that his potential third-term candidacy (which is constitutionally prohibited) was “not a joke.”

The group warned: “He’s destroying the economy with tariffs to cover the cost of tax cuts he wants to give himself and his billionaire friends. He’s ordered the roundup of innocent people from the streets—simply for exercising their First Amendment free speech rights—and their transfer to detention centers without due process. He also intends to run for a third term in office, which the Constitution does not allow.”