Topline
More than 1,000 protests against President Donald Trump and Elon Musk are planned for Saturday in cities across all 50 states, with several international cities taking part, marking the first major demonstration against Trump in his second term.
Protesters gathered in Washington, D.C. Saturday afternoon to protest President Donald Trump. (Photo … More
Key Facts
The “Hands Off” protests will stretch across the country on what organizers have dubbed the National Day of Action, targeting Trump and Musk’s “brazen power grab.”
The “Hands Off” movement was organized by groups including Indivisible, MoveOn, Women’s March and more, with many advocacy organizations joining as partners.
Demonstrations are expected to attract high-profile speakers, including multiple members of Congress, civil rights leaders and former federal employees fired amid the Department of Government Efficiency’s mass layoffs.
The protests will mark the largest demonstration against Trump during his second term so far, echoing protests that took place throughout his first term, including the Women’s March in 2017, which attracted millions of protesters.
Protesters gathered outside the Minnesota State Capitol on Saturday. (Photo by TIM EVANS/AFP via … More
Protesters gathered in Paris on Saturday. (Photo by THOMAS SAMSON/AFP via Getty Images)
Protesters gathered in London on Saturday. (Photo by Alishia Abodunde/Getty Images)
A large crowd gathered Saturday in Washington, D.C. (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images) … More
Why Are The “hands Off” Protests Taking Place?
The “Hands Off” protests are demonstrating against Trump and Musk for “orchestrating an all-out assault on our government, our economy, and our basic rights,” according to the movement’s website. Organizers have cited Trump and Musk’s dismantling of federal agencies, gutting consumer protections and attacks on immigrants and the transgender community as issues central to the demonstrations. The organizers also accuse Trump and Musk of harming the working class while enriching the billionaire class, stating they are demanding an “end to this billionaire power grab.”
Where Are The Protests Taking Place?
The protests are taking place in more than 1,000 U.S. cities, according to the “Hands Off” website, stretching across all 50 states. The Washington, D.C. protest is expected to be the largest, and is listed as the highest-priority event on the “Hands Off” website. The protests prompted First Lady Melania Trump to postpone White House spring garden tours that had been planned for Saturday. The White House announced the postponement was to “ensure the safety of all within proximity to public demonstrations planned near the White House on Saturday.” Multiple international protests also took place Saturday, including in Berlin, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Lisbon and Guadalajara.
How Has The Trump Administration Responded?
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told USA TODAY in a statement: “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.” Forbes has reached out for comment.
Who Is Speaking At “hands Off” Protests?
Speakers slated to participate at “Hands Off” protests include Reps. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., Glenn Ivey, D-Md., Maxwell Frost, D-Fla. and AFL-CIO President Liz Schuler, all of whom will speak at the Washington, D.C. demonstration. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., will speak at the Boston rally. Actress Jodie Sweetin will headline a protest in Los Angeles.
What Organizations Are Backing The “hands Off” Protests?
Many advocacy organizations are backing the “Hands Off” protests, according to its website, including the Human Rights Campaign, the American Civil Liberties Union, the League of Women Voters, the National Education Association and Planned Parenthood.
Tangent
Trump’s second term has already faced protests nationwide, though none as large and organized as “Hands Off.” Many protests have directly targeted Musk, including the “Tesla Takedown” movement, which has consisted of peaceful protests against the Tesla CEO and DOGE chief, as well as instances of vandalism unrelated to the “Tesla Takedown” protests that have targeted Tesla vehicles. These attacks on Tesla vehicles have grown across the country and internationally, prompting Attorney General Pam Bondi to open an investigation against the alleged vandals and threatening perpetrators with prison sentences of up to 20 years.
Further Reading
‘There’s a movement bubbling up’: Anti-Trump protests planned nationwide Saturday (USA Today)
Read the full article here