‘Hands Off!’ protests: Over 600,000 rally across US against Trump and Musk policies
Protesters voiced anger over a range of issues: mass layoffs in the federal workforce, abortion restrictions, trade tariffs, and the gutting of public services. From Anchorage to Atlanta, demonstrators held signs warning of rising authoritarianism and falling living standards.
“This outrageous administration is causing us to lose our allies across the world, and causing devastation to people here at home,” said Diane Kolifrath, 64, who travelled with 100 others from New Hampshire to protest in Washington. “They’re gutting our government.”
A nationwide roar
Organisers estimate over 600,000 people took part in more than 1,200 rallies across the United States, with additional protests in Mexico, Canada and several European cities. On Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue, the protest stretched nearly 20 blocks. Tens of thousands surrounded the Washington Monument in D.C. In Atlanta, police estimated crowds of over 20,000.
“Pouring rain, 43 degrees, biting wind, and people are still here in Albany in the thousands,” posted comic book writer Ron Marz from New York’s state Capitol.
Live Events
In Los Angeles, a woman dressed as a character from The Handmaid’s Tale waved a flag reading: “Get out of my uterus,” in protest against Trump’s rollback of reproductive rights.
Musk, DOGE and the machinery of power
Many protesters singled out Elon Musk, Trump’s powerful adviser and head of the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), for helping implement massive government downsizing. The administration claims these cuts will save taxpayers billions.
But on the ground, the consequences are stark. The Internal Revenue Service alone began laying off more than 20,000 workers last week—about a quarter of its workforce.
Outside
