On Saturday, April 5, Americans gathered in more than 1,200 locations in all 50 states in protest against recent actions by President Donald Trump’s Administration. The protests were partially organized by a political action group called 50501, which is an abbreviation of “50 protests, 50 states, one day”. 50501 organized major demonstrations on February 5, February 17, and March 4, but the “Hands-Off!” protests were the biggest yet. There were 150 other groups organizing the protests including the American Civil Liberties Union, Indivisible, MoveOn, and the Human Rights Campaign.
Organizers said that more than 600,000 people had signed up to participate in the protests, but the total number of those who showed up is estimated to be 3 million. Events also took place in U.S. territories and other countries throughout the world. Although the HandsOff! protests were not the first demonstrations against President Trump’s second term, they were widely seen as the first large-scale mobilization on par with the 2017 Women’s March and the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests.
Protesters displayed signs commenting on numerous different grievances they have with the current administration’s policies. Some of these included the newly imposed tariffs on countries such as China, Mexico and Canada, recent deportations and immigration raids that are seen as unconstitutional, changing policies on LGBTQ+ rights and healthcare access, and possible cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, among other issues. Many expressed frustration over Elon Musk’s involvement in government, as he heads the newly created Department of Government Efficiency without prior experience in politics. A few signs of protestors in Palm Beach, Florida, shared by the Associated Press read, “Democracy not Oligarchy”, “Hands Off Social Security”, and “#NoKings”.
Thousands gathered across the Triangle, demonstrating in downtown Raleigh, Durham, Pittsboro, and Chapel Hill. More than 5,000 gathered around the Capitol building. The 50501NC gave a statement about the Raleigh protest, saying, “With Trump and congressional Republicans doubling down on their agenda to gut essential services, everyday Raleigh residents are sending a clear message: Take your hands off our healthcare, our Social Security, our civil rights, our freedom, and our education.”
Other locations that saw protests around North Carolina include 7,500 protesters gathering in Asheville alone, as well as Charlotte, Fayetteville, Greensboro,Waynesville, and Wilmington.
The HandsOff! demonstrations remained peaceful with no reports of violence throughout the country. When asked about the protests, the White House made a statement saying, “President Trump’s position is clear: he will always protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid for eligible beneficiaries. Meanwhile, the Democrats’ stance is giving Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare benefits to illegal aliens, which will bankrupt these programs and crush American seniors.”
