Local Protests Call for “Hands Off Our Democracy”

On April 3, the Trump administration initiated another round of mass layoffs at the Internal Revenue Service. On April 4, it issued Harvard an ultimatum threatening to cut nine billion dollars in federal funding. And on Saturday, April 5, millions of Americans in all 50 states took to the streets to fight back.

While some signs were facetious, poking fun at everything from infectious diseases (“Make Measles Great Again!”) to Donald Trump’s cabinet picks (“I could buy a better cabinet from IKEA”) others took a more serious angle, accurately representing the chaos and destruction caused by the administration. U.S.A.I.D. funding, immigrant rights, government workers’ employment, among other issues, showed up on countless signs. 

The Hands Off protests were organized by a coalition of over 150 activist groups. According to United Press International, an estimated five million Americans participated in demonstrations–100,000 in Washington alone.

“Donald Trump and Elon Musk think this country belongs to them,” the Hands Off website reads. “They’re taking everything they can get their hands on, and daring the world to stop them. On Saturday, April 5, we’re taking to the streets nationwide to fight back with a clear message: Hands off!”

Hopes for the outcomes of the protest differed among constituents. Some hoped that concrete resistance from citizens would spur Congress and other governmental institutions into action, while others hoped that their efforts would go towards impeaching the president altogether. “I would like to see people that can make changes stand up to [Donald Trump and Elon Musk],” said one protester.

There was one universal, undeniable undertone: the need for action. Citing the targeting of universities, one protester said, “They’re caving, and all these students are getting arrested, and everybody’s sitting back doing nothing. That is my motivation.”

One thing is for sure. Donald Trump’s presidency has been unorthodox in almost every sense, tearing down institutions that uphold America’s democracy. But what these demonstrations show is that the American people will not just stand by and watch that happen. “They need to hear us,” said a protester. “Silence isn’t an option.”

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Safiya Shahjahan

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