On April 5, 2025, an estimated 3-5 million protesters took to the streets to rally against President Trump and Elon Musk in what was called the “Hands Off!” protest. This event, hosted by Indivisible, took place in all 50 states and was in response to what has been called “Trump’s attack on American rights and freedoms”. 

More than 1,400 “Hands Off!” protests were held throughout the country. Protesters were seen carrying signs saying things such as “Hands off our rights” and “Protect our Constitution”. The group chanted, “Hey ho, Trump’s gotta go” and organizers spoke about the need to protect the rights of American citizens. 

According to the “Hands Off!” website, the protest was organized to address four main issues with President Trump’s administration. These issues are the dismantling of social security and medicare, the raising prices of food, rent, and healthcare, the termination of protections for the working class, and the limitation of the rights of innocent people in communities. However, those are not the only things that were being protested against, as there are several other issues with Trump’s administration that were being discussed during the rallies. 

The protest was a completely nonviolent course of action to show that the American people will not stand idly whilst Trump and Elon Musk turn this country’s democracy into a dictatorship. Weapons of any kind were prohibited at all of the events and members were told to de-escalate any dangerous situations.  U.S citizens were not the only ones who spoke out against the Trump administration, as several of the “Hands Off!” events were also hosted in places like Paris and London. 

Although the protest had millions of people involved, it received little news coverage. Many people who were spoken to, especially young adults, had never even heard of it. This was surprising considering the protest numbers in Boston reached 100,000 people. 

When asking a protester from Roanoke, Virginia, why she chose to go, her response was, “I wanted to support my community and speak my mind about the damage Donald Trump is doing to our country.” Someone who knew about the protest but chose not to go states that they did not want to attend because of fear: “I was scared to openly show what I believe in, especially in a family of people who think differently from me.” 

Both of these people believed in the cause, yet one spoke about it publicly, while the other, privately. This supports the assumption that the “Hands Off!” cause has more supporters than just those who protested. The protest was an opportunity for people to make a difference. While only 3-5 million people showed up, thousands more were supporting them from the sidelines.

 In addition, a person who did not support the protest was asked what they thought about it, they said, “I just think it’s stupid. [President] Trump isn’t doing anything wrong, it’s not like it’s gonna work.” Many people share this opinion and believe that protesting is a waste of time. 

The “Hands Off!” protest will not be the last of its kind. U.S citizens will continue to work towards an America that reflects their values. The protest was nearly the beginning of a country in which all of its citizens are treated equally and with respect.