In the largest wave of demonstrations since President Donald Trump’s return to the White House, dozens of thousands of protesters went to the streets across all 50 states on Saturday and expressed anger at what they were increasingly called by authoritarian administration. Organized under the Battalion “Hands Off!”, More than 1200 gatherings mobilized a wide coalition of groups, including advocates of civil rights, trade unions, veterans and LGBTQ+.
From New York to Alaska AZ Washington, DC, to Los Angeles, demonstrators condemned Trump’s extensive government cuts, hard immigration attitudes and move against reproductive and LGBTQ+ rights.
Demonstrators demonstrate on hand protest against Trump’s administration on April 5, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Mario Tama/Getty Images/Afpmarie Conti, on the left in the foreground and Amie Faillace, at the right at the foreground, both from the center of Philadelphia, join other protesters from the town hall to the AP AP AP AP AP) on Saturday 5th April 2025.
Demonstrators focus on Trump, Musk
In Seattle, the singing “Fight the oligarchy” rang, while in Los Angeles thousands marched through the streets of the city. Most of the criticism was also focused on billionaire Elon Musk, Trump’s advisor and head of the government department. Musk’s role, led by deep cuts of personnel staff and agencies with a decrease in size, attracted sharp rebukes.
“He has to hold his hands outside our social security,” said protesting Archer Moran in Palm Beach Gardens in Florida. “The list of what they need to keep their hands out is too long.”
Demonstrators sit on the stairs of the State House during the hands outside the protest 5th April 2025 in Columbia, South Carolina. Sean Rayford / Getty Images / AFP (photo from Sean Rayford / Getty Images North America / Getty Images over AFP)
Scenes from streets
In Washington, DC, Kelley Robinson, President of Human Rights campaign, he condemned the return of LGBTQ+ administration protection.
“The attacks we see are not just political. They are personal, everyone,” Robinson told the crowd in a national trade. “Trojí our doctors, our teachers, our families and our lives.”
Air view of the crowd during the rally hands on Saturday 5th April 2025 in Rosa Parks Circle in Grand Rapids, Mich, organized by the indivisible Greater Grand Rapids Arthur H. Trickett-Wile | Mive.com/ The Grand Rapids Press via AP)
Mayor of Michelle Wu of Boston repeated these sentiments and expressed concerns about the future of immigrant families like her own.
“I refuse to accept that they could grow up in a world where immigrants like their grandmother and Grandpa automatically assume that they are criminals,” Wu said.
Demonstrators participate in the hands outside the protest in Statehouse 5. April 2025 in Columbia, South Carolina. Sean Rayford / Getty Images / AFP (photo from Sean Rayford / Getty Images North America / Getty Images over AFP)
The former Republicans join the resistance
Some protesters identified as former conservatives, now disillusioned towards Trump’s administration.
“He tore this country apart,” said Roger Broom, 66, pensioner and former reagan Republican, at Columbus in Ohio. “It’s just a complaint management.”
Demonstrators in Denver waved the characters that read “No King for USA” and in Los Angeles, protesting dressed as a character from Handmaid, holding a flag reading: “Get out of my uterus.”
The protesters hold their hands during the demonstration of hands on Saturday 5th April 2025 in Charlotte, NC (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco)
Requires resistance and unity
Representative Jamie Raskin, who led Trump’s second indictment, dealt with a crowd of Washington:
“No moral person wants a dictator who undresses an economy who knows the price of everything and value.”
The veteran activist Gralylan Hagler gathered the crowd and said, “They woke up a sleeping giant and haven’t seen anything yet. We will not sit down, we will not be silence and we will not be gone.”
Crystal Brown, 65 years old, holds a sign outside the protest against US President Donald Trump and his advisor Elon Musk in Stamford, Connecticut, USA, April 5, 2025. Reuters/Nathan LayneAlso read | Elon Musk Bats for the US-EU zone ‘Zero tariff’; what does it mean? He explained
White House refuses protests
Despite the great participation of the Trump administration, the administration seemed immobile. The White House issued a statement that reaffirms its position: “The position of President Trump is clear: it will always protect social security, Medicare and Medicaid for eligible recipients,” and at the same time accuse democrats of offering these benefits to non -documented immigrants.
Demonstrators demonstrate on hand protest against Trump’s administration on April 5, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Mario Tama/Getty Images/AFP
Meanwhile, Trump spent a golf day in Florida and remained defiant. “My policies will never change,” he said on Friday.
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