Baltimore joins nationwide "Hands Off!" protest against President Trump and Elon Musk
On Saturday, April 5, the plaza outside Baltimore City Hall was filled with protesters who joined a nationwide revolt against President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, their policies, and their moves to lay off thousands of federal workers.
Organizers in Baltimore called the event a "Hands Off!" rally – sending a clear message to Mr. Trump and other elected officials to take their hands off of education, healthcare, and much more.
According to CBS News, More than 1,200 "Hands Off!" demonstrations were planned by more than 150 groups, including civil rights organizations, labor unions, LGBTQ+ advocates, veterans and election activists. The protests took place at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., state capitols, and other locations in all 50 states.
The Free State Coalition said Saturday's protest was also about building community in Maryland. Politicians, union leaders, and even musicians spoke at the roughly three-hour event.
Jessica Davis, one of the organizers with the Free State Coalition, said more than 1,000 people registered. However, organizers said nearly 3,000 people packed the City Hall lawn on Saturday.
Davis said people came for all different reasons, such as LGBTQ+ rights, social security, and immigration.
"We are fighting for community," Davis said. "We are fighting for human rights, citizens' rights, and really trying to build a community to come together to be able to show that the power of the people is greater than the people in power."
WJZ reached out to the Maryland Republican Party for comments but has yet to hear back.
What is the "Hands Off" movement?
Protesters are decrying the Trump administration's decisions to fire thousands of federal workers, close Social Security Administration field offices, effectively shutter entire agencies, deport immigrants, scale back protections for transgender people and cut federal funding for health programs, according to CBS News.
Musk, a Trump adviser who owns Tesla, SpaceX and the social media platform X, has played a key role in government downsizing as the head of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Musk said he is saving taxpayers billions of dollars.
"Billionaires and oligarchs don't value anything other than profit and power, and they sure as hell don't value you or your life or your community," said Washington D.C. protester Paul Osadebe, a lawyer for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. "And we're seeing that they don't care who they have to destroy or who they have to hurt to get what they want."
CBS News contributed to this story
