On Saturday, demonstrators gathered across the United States, united by a common message: Hands off. Organizers reported that more than 1,300 Hands Off rallies occurred nationwide, showcasing a variety of issues, yet all expressing opposition to the Trump administration. Since President Trump took office in January, protests have erupted against various policies, including the mass firing of federal workers, immigration raids, and the involvement of billionaire Elon Musk in government decisions. Notably, Saturday's protests marked the most extensive protests of Trump's second term.
Kelley Laird, a resident of Rockville, Maryland, attended a rally in Washington, D.C., where she articulated the diverse concerns of the demonstrators. "There are so many issues," she stated, emphasizing that the administration is "coming after education, coming after health care, coming after the arts, coming after the press." This sentiment was echoed across various protest locations, where individuals gathered to voice their grievances.
In Boston, protesters rallied against federal budget cuts to research and the arrest of Rümeysa Öztürk, a Tufts University doctoral student apprehended by federal agents. Meanwhile, in Sylva, North Carolina, over 300 individuals came together to oppose cuts impacting national parks, education, and veterans services, as reported by BPR News. In Portland, Oregon, thousands voiced their opposition to what they described as an illegal power grab by Trump and Musk, according to OPB.
In Washington, D.C., the area near the Washington Monument filled with thousands holding signs advocating for reproductive rights, LGBTQ rights, Social Security, and veterans' benefits, while opposing tariffs. Laird and her neighbors have formed a group chat named "Sisters of the Resistance" to coordinate their attendance at protests and offer support to one another. Emily Peck, who initiated the chat, remarked, "We need to form community to bolster each other up because we have to be in this for the long run."
Many attendees expressed a sense of urgency and obligation to participate in the rallies. Patty Kim, a retired federal worker, shared her reflections on the rally in D.C., stating, "This is the first time that I am trying to regularly participate... I felt so frustrated and paralyzed by the bunch of things that are going on that undermine human rights and humanity in this country that I love, that I had to do something."
Veterans Colleen Boland and Sonia Lundy, both active in protests, view their participation as an extension of their military oath to protect Americans. Boland, who served in both the Army and Air Force, expressed concern over the future of Social Security and veterans' benefits. "We took an oath long ago to protect against all enemies foreign and domestic... and I don't think either Sonia or I ever imagined that we would have to kick in on the domestic piece of our oath, but we have, we are, and we will," she stated.
While the White House has assured that there will be no cuts to Social Security benefits, plans for significant changes loom, including the closure of numerous Social Security offices and the elimination of thousands of jobs. Lundy, who also served in the Army, expressed her worries: "I was going to rely on this money. Is it going to be there?"
Among the demonstrators were Al and Bev Mirmelstein, who traveled from Charlottesville, Virginia, in a bus caravan organized by Indivisible Charlottesville. The couple held signs that read: "Hands off our Constitution, rule of law, Social Security, free speech, health care, and Save our democracy." At 77 years old, they committed to activism, participating in numerous protests, including one against the opening of a Tesla showroom. Reflecting on their past, Al shared, "I didn't participate in that, and I feel like I'm making up for it now."
The widespread protests demonstrate a growing movement against the Trump administration's policies, as citizens from various backgrounds come together to advocate for their rights and the future of their country.
