Posted April 8, 2025
The 1200 Hands Off demonstrations that took place on April 5th indicate the breadth of an emerging movement to oppose the vicious Trump administration. More than 150 groups — including the AFL-CIO, Indivisible, MoveOn, and the League of Women Voters — organized the event. Whether Saturday was rainy or sunny, at least a million people protested. Most came as individuals or with friends and family rather than turning out as members of union or community organizations. The vast majority made their own signs, reflecting their anger at the Trump team’s violations of people’s civil rights and even livelihoods. The issues they raised, often with sly sense of humor, were both personal and political.
The Hands Off actions reflect the emergence of a new fightback yet also grow out of the frustrations experienced under the previous Biden administration. And like any new movement, there is much excitement and boundless energy. Yet there is also the recognition that overthrowing the growing inequality and insecurity will take more than one demonstration. How can this movement find a way to grow and gain strength?
We asked Solidarity members to write short reports about the marches and rallies in their area; here are their edited responses.
ALAMEDA, CA: I was at two of the Hands Off actions (with 10,000-15,000 in Oakland, 1000 in Alameda). There were several thousand in Berkeley and countless more demonstrations in southern Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Also, in the smaller cities in the South Bay, Fremont had two demonstrations about a mile apart. About 1000 people lined up on all four corners and eight sides of intersections in both places. North of San Francisco, Santa Rosa had its largest demonstration when 5,000 turned out; Nearby Sonoma had another 3,000.. In Southern California, there were 10,000 in Los Angeles.
In Alameda, where I teach, Palestine was front and center in signs, buttons and in the speeches, although it wasn’t included in the call for the mobilization. Although the demonstrators included a lot of older people, youth, some of whom came with their parents, were there as well. However, only a small percentage were people of color: mainly African Americans and Latinos, but almost no East Asians, who make up a substantial part of the town’s population, especially the youth. The demonstration ended with a march.
The Alameda County Central Labor Council leadership called on members to be at the Oakland action, but despite a few union banners and t-shirts, (SEIU, OEA, et al), it was not a major organized union mobilization This limited presence needs to be altered for May Day!
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ATLANTA, GA: About 30,000 turned out — like 2017 but with more union presence. Thousands of homemade signs. Most of the crowd was younger than GenX and DSA was highly visible. Good antidote to the Winter’s passivism. Speakers included Gabriel Sanchez, DSA member elected as a socialist to state legislature in 2024.
AUSTIN, TX: Several thousand demonstrators came out to the Texas Capitol in Austin to protest Trump, Musk and the gutting of the already weak U.S. democracy. Organized here by a relatively inexperienced activists in Indivisible inspired by 50501, the theme and main slogan here as elsewhere was Hands Off. Hands off Medicare, hands off the VA, hands off our democracy, universities, libraries, free speech, schools and so on.
The signs and posters in the crowd were almost all hand-made, many with great artistic flair. There were lots of pro-democracy and anti-fascist, anti-oligarchy sign boards. You could also see a fair number of solidarity with Palestine signs along with pro-immigrant and trans rights placards.
The issue of schools was stressed because it is looking like the right wing that governs Texas is about to pass the wholesale funding of private schools with public school money via vouchers. With Governor Gregg Abott having school vouchers as his goal, at one point, much of the crowd broke into a less G-rated chant than the official “hands off” as a huge wave of “Fuck Abbott” washed across the demonstration.
The main speakers were elected officials and others who focused on the predictable call to vote Democrat, get the right people elected and flip the House. But other speakers were more inspired. One stressed the importance of defending both Palestine and the specific targets of Trumpist and Zionist attacks across the country. A trans rights speaker had a good turn of phrase: “This is not the time to be an ally. This is the time to be an accomplice.”
Other Hands Off actions around the state included more than a thousand in Houston along with several hundred in El Paso and San Antonio. There were undoubtedly other actions throughout the state, especially in Dallas/Ft. Worth.
BALTIMORE, MD: Yesterday’s demonstration in downtown Baltimore was about 1,000 people, which is really good for Baltimore. There was racial balance in the speakers list but the turnout was heavily white. The age range of attendees was broad. There was no organized labor turnout. As far as I could tell, the demo was organized by a coalition of activist groups that are generally Democratic Party-aligned.
The first three speakers were US Senator Chris Van Hollen and US Reps Kweisi Mfume and Johnny Ozewski. Following them were an interesting sample of speakers including a Korean-American activist (not sure of her political affiliation) who compared the present struggle to the one against the South Korean military dictatorship, the proprietor of a Black-owned bookstore that does a lot of prison outreach, and a member of Socialist Alternative who very sharply criticized the Democratic Party including the earlier speakers and said the unions should start a labor party. I was glad to hear the idea of political independence and a labor party getting a hearing.
The Maryland Green Party had a table, as did Socialist Alternative. I saw a few signs from DSA and PSL but most were handmade. A lot of signs with vitriol were directed at Trump and Musk, some appeals to normalcy and U.S. prestige (“are we great yet? because I just feel embarrassed”), some anti-Putin slogans, and many signs protesting cuts to Social Security, Medicaid, funding of public institutions, and attacks on trans people. One person yelled “Free Palestine” at one point.
Hundreds also demonstrated at the Social Security Administration headquarters outside of Baltimore.
There was talk about a May 1 demonstration that would be even bigger, including a call to “shut things down” (work, school, etc.). The obvious question, it seems to me, is the question of strategy. Successive demonstrations are useful to a point but will eventually peter out. I wished I had brought a sign calling either for a workers’ party to replace the Democrats, or a general strike to fight Trump.
BELLINGHAM, WA: Thousands gathered at the City Hall grounds on a sunny spring day. About 70% of the passing cars called support from open windows, thumbs up, honking. Even a fire truck went by honking, and getting a rousing hurrah from the streets. There were no, repeat no, counter demonstrations or cat calls from cars. Earlier, several hundred lined the four-way intersection at the Federal Building. Other than some confusion over whether to go to the Federal Building or City Hall, everyone appeared very happy to be with so many others of similar thoughts and feelings. There was much talking between strangers, often ending in mutual hugs. It was a very hopeful, uplifting affair. There were also Hands Off demonstrations in Olympia and Seattle.
CHICAGO, IL: The crowd was so large, it was hard to hear what the speakers were saying. Organizers had the crowd start marching ten minutes before the rally started because it was so large — 30,000! At least half the crowd seemed young and largely white although there were a fair number of people of color. Opposition to the deportations was a major theme and many banners and posters supporting Palestine. Most signs were handmade, and they covered a wide range of topics: social security, collective bargaining, abortion, immigration, Palestine, scientific research, federal workers, DOGE, protecting democracy, LGBTQ+, BLM, etc. But the signs I saw the most of were either saying no to fascism or were anti-Trump or Musk.
Many of the signs were hilarious. My favorite was one held by a young woman in a well-worn leather jacket and chains that simply read:
MY PERSONAL PRONOUNS
FUCK BIGOTS!
Trump’s “flooding the zone” approach has triggered our fight or flight responses, and it feels so good to get out there and begin to fight. A lot of work went into building it; for many this was their first demonstration. It was an overall positive development even if the proportion of Black and Latinx marchers did not match the city’s composition. But where in the hell are the unions?
Here’s a video the Chicago Federation of Labor shared showing the massive crowds marching by.
DETROIT, MI: Unlike many other cities, Detroit had a march but no rally. About 6,000 marched from the Detroit Institute of Arts much enthusiasm and great signs. It was a fairly diverse crowd in terms of gender and age. There were many African Americans but probably only 10-20% in a majority Black city. However there were no contingents and few of us carried union signs. My sign was from a recent demonstration at the post office and many commented on its “Fight Like Hell” slogan from the Letter Carriers union. Another Solidarity member used an SDS slogan from 1968: “Vote with your feet. Vote in the street.”
Along with other DSA members, passed out “Tax the Rich” cards; my bundle went fast. Also distributed a couple dozen copies of past Against the Current issues, which people were happy to receive. In fact, some asked for them after I gave out all I had.
Michigan had at least 34 Hands Off actions, including at the state capitol in Lansing, and in Dearborn, Ferndale and even quiet Detroit suburbs.
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN: Despite pouring rain, the Indianapolis Hands Off protest gathered over 3 000 protesters. Spirited crowd but rally speakers reflected the Democrats’ perspective of making change via the ballot box. Thousands more gathered in Muncie and South Bend.
HOUSTON, TX: Although the Houston Chronicle reported 5000 turned out for the Hands Off rally Saturday, April 5 at City Hall, it seemed closer to 1000 to 1500 people. It was one of 35 such events in Texas alone.
The speakers were by-and-large elected Dem officials. The rhetoric was therefore as expected: “make sure you show up for the mid-terms etc., etc.” In essence the message was “vote blue harder.” However, there were notable exceptions, primarily speakers of color.
I particularly enjoyed Christian Menefee’s speech as it was engaging and rebellious, correctly highlighting the importance of community organizing. (Christian Menefee is the sitting county attorney for Harris County, which encompasses the City of Houston. Menefee has a fighting record against the far-right governor Greg Abbott and his cronies; he has won several legal battles against them. Together with other Harris County commissioners, he is currently engaged in pushback litigation against the Trump’s administration’s efforts to dismantle birthright citizenship.
While predominantly white, the crowd was primarily young and somewhat diverse. I met interesting protesters who originated from South Africa. I recognized very few people, which indicates new forces emerging in this exciting mass movement of opposition.
A contingent of about a dozen people from Houston DSA showed up and I helped to distribute DSA flyers towards the end of the event. Other political groups at the event included Socialist Alternative, who had a booth, and RevCom (RCP).
I saw not a single counter-protester, which I found somewhat surprising. During the first Trump administration we saw armed, and often out-of-town, Proud Boys and other groups at similar events.
According to the Hands-Off website there will be a Hands Off event planned at College Station on April 10. Since College Station is the home of Texas A&M, one of the most conservative universities in the nation, this could be an interesting development.
KALAMAZOO/PORTAGE, MI: A crowd of about 4,000 lined up on both sides of the street — packed in pretty solidly on one side of the road and more sparsely on the other — for a span of a full mile along a strip of shopping centers for a Hands On demonstration. There was spirited chanting and lots of creative handmade signs. Many honking horns and thumbs up from passing motorists with only a very rare middle finger. It was inspiring to see so many people out in the streets again. I was also glad that, due to the linear shape of the crowd, there were no politician speeches. I suggested going with my mom, who is not normally very politically engaged. She agreed and said she’d had going to ask me! Recently she’d started attending Indivisible meetings, which have gone from about a dozen to hundreds.
MAINE: About 17,000 Mainers from across the state gathered For the April 15 Hands Off This encompassed 28 cities and towns across the state, From Portland to Lubec. People voiced their opposition to federal budget and staffing cuts, massive tax cuts for billionaires, attacks on abortion and union rights, and actions targeting trans people. Speakers called for U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (Republican) to push back against Trump.
MILWAUKEE: The Hands Off protests yesterday were widespread in Wisconsin, with 9,000 demonstrating in Milwaukee. Newly elected DSA City Council member, Alex Brower, gave a rousing, powerful speech calling for socialism, need to build a mass socialist movement to fight back. Solidarity had a banner and table, distributing Against the Current and our Socialism pamphlet.
Additionally, in Madison, the state capitol, there were 10,000 protesters. Appleton had 2,300, Green Bay 1500 and several hundred in Ashland, Eau Claire, LaCrosse, Superior and West Bend (known as a MAGA enclave). Beloit, Dodgeville, Janesville, Kenosha, Manitowoc, Monroe, Oconomowoc, Oshkosh and Racine also had actions.
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MONTPELIER, VT: This was the biggest turnout since the original Women’s March in 2017. There were approximately 10,000 rallying in Montpelier with maybe 10 other Vermont Hands Off rallies, including 1600 in Brattleboro, 2000 in Burlington. There was a strong labor and Palestine solidarity presence, with lots of DSA Socialism beats fascism signs. Ultraleftism caused some to boycott.
Speakers were, as expected, far to the right of the crowds. The absence of leadership, for example in Burlington, allowed left and Palestinian solidarity activists to play a key role in the march. DSA’s “Socialism Beats Fascism” signs were well received. Lots of Palestinian flags. Lots of union members but no organized labor contingents.
In my view, the most important thing we can do is move sections of the organized labor movement into preparing well thought out, strategic jobs actions and building towards political strikes.
NEW YORK CITY: Despite a chilly rain, an estimated 50,000-100.00 marched 20 or more blocks down Fifth Avenue. There was a disproportionately high number of elders, mostly white and with very limited union participation. SEIU and AFSCME didn’t turn out their members but some Black “influencers” came out against the protest. People put a lot of work into clever signs. Unlike DC there were no Democratic politicians.
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RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TX: There were actually three protests: one in Brownsville and two in McAllen. Attendance was smaller than in other areas of Texas because the actions were only promoted within one’s own circle. The 1pm protest at the Social Security Office was organized by older community members. About 100-150 folks of diverse races and genders protests Trump’s cuts to social services. The 5pm action, which I wasn’t able to attend, was organized by two YDSA members.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT: Thousands demonstrated at the state capitol (amazing considering clog on street access to capitol because of Mormon church general conference this weekend). Several carried upside-down U.S. flags indicating stress. The theme of the rally was that given the variety of attacks the Trump administration has launched, unity was a necessity.
SYRACUSE, NY: Between 3,000-4,000 — organized by white liberal groups who have little to no connection to unions and Black, Latino and immigrant churches and civic organizations — came out to demonstrate. This reflects the extreme residential and social segregation by race and class in a city that is half people of color.
TRAVERSE CITY, MI: The Traverse City Hands Off rally drew an estimated 4000 people, according to the Traverse City Record-Eagle. This may be a bit of an exaggeration. The rally was called by the local Indivisible groups. No elected official spoke, just citizens and a candidate who lost an unwinnable race for U.S. House last fall. The rally was very large for Northern Michigan.
