Over 100,000 protesters in Washington, D.C., and across the country gathered under a cloudy sky to voice their opposition to President Donald Trump and his administration last Saturday.
On April 5, the “Hands Off” rally, organized by groups including “50/51” and “Women’s March Move On,” brought together over 150 organizations, such as the Palestinian Youth Movement and Indivisible, according to Vogue magazine. The event was part of a broader national movement, with approximately 1,400 protests taking place simultaneously across the country.
Protesters in D.C. assembled in front of the U.S. Capitol and around the Washington Monument to express their outrage over Trump’s policies and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.
The rally focused on denouncing government downsizing efforts and policies, especially those targeting federal workers, immigrants and vulnerable communities.
“I’m here to protest the dismantling of our democracy,” Master Sergeant Rig, a retired veteran, said. “We’re facing a president who’s trying to destroy Black lives and tear down everything we’ve fought for.”
The “Hands Off” protest also highlighted growing concerns about freedom of speech and government overreach.
Julie Patricia, an activist from Boise, Idaho, spoke about her decision to legally change her name to she/her in response to Trump’s ban on allowing federal employees to include pronouns in their email signatures.
“It’s complete bullshit, I’ll be damned if anyone tells me what I can or cannot put in my email signature,” Patricia said.
Some attendees emphasized the rise of authoritarianism under the Trump administration.
Congressman Al Green (D-TX) addressed the crowd, promising to raise articles of impeachment against Trump within the next 30 days.
“Mr. President, this David is coming for you. Within the next 30 days, I’m bringing articles of impeachment,” Green said.
Prominent political figures gave added attention to the rally and the growing momentum behind efforts to hold the Trump administration accountable. According to Democracy Forward, a coalition of 280 organizations launched a multi-million dollar effort to pursue legal action against Trump and Vice President JD Vance for their “harmful” and “anti-democratic” actions.
“I’m doing my duty to uphold the Constitution. I served this country for 22 years, and I’ll be damned if I let someone like Trump tear it down,” Rig said.
Adjacent to the anti-Trump protest, the Palestinian Youth Movement held a rally in solidarity with Palestinians suffering under Israeli military operations in Gaza.
The protest was sparked by the recent escalation of violence and the detention of two students, Mahmoud Khalil and Rumeysa Ozturk, who had criticized Israeli actions.
For protester Alex Gitacho, the rally was personal. “One of the reasons we’re here is to remember the Palestinian children who have been massacred,” he said, referring to a procession of small shoes representing the lives lost in Gaza.
As the protests grew in size, park police stood by, blocking off roads and observing the events. One officer commented, “We have no idea what [the protesters] are up to, they just do what they want.”
The atmosphere remained peaceful, with many protesters determined to make their voices heard. The rally continued with a theme of resisting the current administration, both through protests and passive resistance.
Copy edited by Aniyah Genama
