An estimated 5.2 million protesters gathered at over 1,400 demonstrations across all 50 states on Saturday, April 5, 2025. Democrats Abroad estimates that thousands more joined protests in European cities like Berlin, Frankfurt, Lisbon, London, and Paris. These demonstrations were organized as a collaboration of the 50501 and ‘Hands Off!’ movements; a “[…] nationwide mobilization to stop the most brazen power grab in modern history.” Organizers view the movement as a response to “[…] an all-out assault on our government, our economy, and our basic rights.” Jonathan Rauch characterizes Trump’s actions as a shift towards patrimonialism, a governing style typically observed in street gangs and criminal organizations.
Just three-quarters of the way through the first 100 days of his presidency, Donald Trump has embraced far-right initiatives outlined in Project 2025, despite publicly disavowing the playbook during his 2024 presidential campaign. According to CNN, Trump has issued 185 executive actions, an unprecedented number that has far surpassed that of any former United States president. An analysis conducted by Time found “[…] that nearly two-thirds of the executive actions,” mirrored proposals made by Project 2025, “[…] ranging from sweeping deregulation measures to aggressive immigration reform.”
Paul Dans, the former Director and Chief Architect of Project 2025 at the Heritage Foundation, shared his enthusiasm with Politico, stating that Trump’s use of Project 2025 as a blueprint for his administration exceeds even his own expectations. “It’s actually way beyond my wildest dreams,” Dans remarked. Among the most controversial of these far-right initiatives has been the appointment of Elon Musk as the de facto leader of a temporary government organization called the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Since its inception, opponents have declared DOGE an attempted coup d’état, pointing to constitutional breaches and authoritarian behavior. Although Musk’s term as a Special Government Employee (SGE) is limited to 130 days over a calendar year, he has promptly disregarded Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requirements to grant DOGE access to sensitive government information, while Trump personally exempted DOGE from these same public disclosure rules. As a result, the outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. reports that DOGE’s actions have largely contributed to 275,240 job cuts announced by U.S.-based employers in March 2025.
As of April 11, 2025, Just Security, an independent public resource, reported tracking 192 legal challenges against actions taken by the Trump administration, with just 4 cases closed. This figure reflects rising frustration and discontent among Americans with differing political, cultural, and social ideologies.
While protests drew massive crowds of upset demonstrators, they remained peaceful, with no incidents of civil disobedience or arrests reported. In response to the Hands Off! Protest, White House Press Secretary Karoline Keavitt, was previously quoted as telling USA Today, “Anyone who thinks protests, lawsuits, and lawfare will deter President Trump must have been sleeping under a rock for the past several years.” Trump has not publicly addressed the protests, however, several sources indicate he spent the day golfing at Trump National Golf Club in Florida.
The Veris Media Group LLC team covered the Hands Off! Protests in Long Island and New York City. The strength and unity of protesters were clear, but many voiced concerns about possible retaliation from officials in the Trump administration.
New York City
Tens of thousands of protesters marched down Fifth Ave in New York City, stretching from Bryant Park to Madison Square Park, chanting “Hands Off!” in unison. The peaceful demonstration drew widespread support from a range of partners, including advocacy groups, unions, and cultural organizations. The participants united as part of a nationwide effort to stop actions of the second Trump administration.
The signs and conversations clearly represented growing unrest in the country. Voices echoed through the streets, making this one of the loudest days the city has seen all year. Protesters called for an end to global tariffs, cuts to the federal workforce, and the attempted abolishment of collective bargaining for labor unions. They also were demanding an end to illegal immigration raids, the termination of LGBTQIA+ protections, the revocation of student visas, and cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. A recurring sign observed during the march read, “No Oligarchs! No Kings!” The message is tied to the recent “Fighting Oligarchy” tour led by Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Politicians beyond the progressive titans also were seen backing the Hands Off! Protest. New York City Councilmember Linda B. Rosenthal joined protesters, holding a sign and urging the Trump administration to end what has been called an illegal power grab in Washington, D.C. On Instagram, Rosenthal reflected on the protest, “This is what democracy looks like – thousands of New Yorkers and people across the globe fighting for what is morally right.” In the past month, she has emerged as one of the most vocal critics of the Trump administration in the New York City Council.
Many protesters who spoke to Veris Media Group LLC chose not to share their last names for privacy and safety reasons. However, Barbara Alessandrello openly shared her name and her disgust with the situation. “I’m so angry. I grew up in a different America,” she said. As a lifelong political activist, she voiced her worries about the country, particularly for younger generations affected by cuts to the Department of Education. “It’s the dumbing down of America,” she said. “You get people who don’t understand critical thinking, so what Fox News tells them, they believe it. They could find out for themselves, but they don’t understand. That was deliberate.”
As Barbara rejoined other passionate New Yorkers, crowds passed by with upside-down American flags, Pride flags, banners, and colorful posters advocating for human rights. This protest united a community across generations, reminding everyone that while one protest may not lead to immediate change, it symbolizes a collective America ready to fight for what’s right.
“It’s really important not only to protest. We have to protest, but we also have to make sure that people understand what’s going on, and put pressure on Congress as well as support one another in their local communities.” Noelle Damico, Director of Social Justice with The Workers Circle, told Veris Media Group LLC. “Because at the end of the day, the moral line runs straight through each one of us. And all of us have to make a decision.”
Clea, a woman who wished to remain anonymous, emphasized the importance of education in the protests. She noted that these demonstrations unite people and there is strength in numbers. However, she believes education is key to transforming that strength into a meaningful movement. “Being educated is really important. […] Can you listen to five minutes of the news a day? Can you read one story? Can you listen to thirty minutes? […] Doing the smallest amount is better than nothing,” she stated.
Unlike many demonstrations, this protest stood out for its minimal police presence. Organizers of the Hands Off! Protest trained volunteer organizations in Marshall Training to help manage traffic and uphold their commitment to nonviolence. The mission statement on the Hands Off! website emphasizes, “We expect all participants to de-escalate potential confrontations with those who disagree with our values and to act lawfully during these events.”
There were also no confrontations with counterprotesters or agitators. A small group of counterprotesters gathered outside Grand Central Station and Madison Square Park, holding signs in support of Trump and his policies. However, they did not interact with the Hands Off! participants. It remains unclear whether they felt overwhelmed by the enormity of the crowds, empathized with some of the concerns being raised, or simply preferred not to engage as a form of opposition. Veris Media Group LLC attempted to interview several counterprotesters, but they declined to comment.
Long Island
Emotions ran high in Suffolk County, a county that Trump carried in 2024 by nearly 10-percentage-points, as thousands of protesters lined both sides of Oak Street in Patchogue, New York. This was one of eight protests across the county. Braving the rain and cold, demonstrators held homemade signs with messages such as “Resist Fascism,” “Deport Elon,” and “Make America Think Again!”
Drums set a steady beat as lively music filled the air, empowering protesters to raise their voices. Their messages, a chorus of resistance that echoed throughout the village streets. Vehicles driving down the crowded street honked their horns with raised fists out of windows, demonstrating solidarity for the Hands Off! Protest.
Shoshana Hershkowitz, Organizer and Policy Advocate, addressed the large crowd through a megaphone. “These cuts and these infringements on people’s rights harm all of our communities,” she told Veris Media Group LLC. She called for “[…] standing united on issues of economic justice as well as social justice.” As the MC for the Hands Off! Protest in Patchogue, Hershkowitz recognized the deep anger and fear about what has been lost and what might still be taken.
Despite apprehension over current events, protesters were eager to learn about future organizing and mobilization efforts. Johnna, a protester who asked Veris Media Group LLC to keep her last name private, held a hand-painted sign reading, “Fight for democracy while you still can.” As protesters talked about making calls and writing to their political leaders, hope filled the air instead of defeat. Unlike past protests where organizers took the lead, participants now seemed ready to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the movement. Hershkowitz described it as a shared understanding that this is an all hands on deck moment.
A notable difference between the Patchogue and New York City protests was the overall age of the participants. Em Moratti, a Health Education Manager, told Veris Media Group LLC that most protesters were older Americans. “It wasn’t just […] those young folks who will go out and protest about anything,” they said. “This was probably the oldest crowd I have ever seen at a protest. […] These old folks are not going out to protest about anything. They’re serious about this, so it was nice to see them.”
Gathered in front of Congressman Andrew Garbarino’s office, police presence was minimal as well. The few officers there were laughing, smiling, and joking with protesters. “They remained out of the way and were respectful,” says Moratti. This contrasts sharply with 2020 protests across Long Island, which saw police two to three times greater in size and acting more aggressively. Moratti believes this difference is because the crowd was whiter than in 2020, making officers less nervous.
Moratti’s observation reflected a common concern among protesters. “There is a lack of diversity at this protest,” an anonymous participant told Veris Media Group LLC. “Where is our immigrant community? Our Black community? Our LGBTQ community?” Moratti emphasized that the absence of these voices and the lack of discussion about the challenges they face, especially amid growing executive actions against immigration and transgender rights, must change going forward.
Hershkowitz also addressed the absence of voices at this protest, but explained that conversations and education need to happen everywhere. She referenced Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, who “will go on Fox News […] go to Coachella […] go to Idaho,” she said. “There’s no place that he’s not going to go to talk to people and to meet them where they’re at.” Many protesters in New York City shared this view, saying education is key to strengthening the movement and ensuring people have the right information.
As the protests wrapped up for the day, one message stood out: the Hands Off! Protest achieved its mission of organizing a nonviolent response to the “[…] all-out assault on our government, our economy, and our basic rights.” Amid ongoing fear, anger, and uncertainty, the large turnout at protests across the country shows a growing resistance that shows no signs of slowing.