Hands Off protests Facts for Kids

This page is about the 2025 protests against Donald Trump. For other protests, see Hands-off#Politics.

Quick facts for kids

Hands Off protests

Part of the protests against the second presidency of Donald Trump and the 50501 protests

Protesters at the National Mall, Washington, D.C.

Date

April 5, 2025

Location

United States
international

Caused by

Opposition to the policies of Donald Trump and Elon Musk

Goals

Varied

To remove Donald Trump from the office of president
To protect the Constitution of the United States
To stop budget cuts to programs like Medicare and Social Security
To protect the rights of immigrants and minority groups
To improve relationships with other countries

Methods

Demonstrations
mass protests

Status

Ended

Parties to the civil conflict

Over 150 community organizations

Major organizers

50501 movement
Indivisible movement
Women's March

The official logo for the Hands Off protests.

The Hands Off protests were a series of large demonstrations that happened across the United States on April 5, 2025. They were a major protest against the second term of President Donald Trump. Until a later event, it was the largest single day of protest against the administration.

The protests were organized under the slogan "Hands Off!" and took place in over 1,400 locations. Organizers estimate that between three to five million people participated across all 50 states. A large group of over 150 organizations, including groups for civil rights, workers' rights, and women's rights, worked together to plan the events.

People protested many of the government's new policies. They were concerned about new taxes on goods from other countries, called tariffs, which caused economic problems. They also protested cuts to government jobs and programs like Social Security and healthcare. Protesters wanted to protect the rights of immigrants and LGBTQ+ people. Many felt the government was not protecting American democracy.

Why Did People Protest?
Who Organized the Protests?
Protests Across the Country and the World
Images for kids
See also

Why Did People Protest?

The Hands Off protests were led by a coalition of different groups from all over the country. These included civil rights groups, veterans, women's rights advocates, labor unions (groups that protect workers), and LGBTQ+ supporters.

The organizers said they had three main demands:

An end to what they saw as corruption in the government.
An end to funding cuts for programs many people depend on, like Medicaid and Social Security.
An end to policies they felt were attacks on immigrants, trans people, and other communities.

While there had been other protests against President Trump's second term, the Hands Off event was the first very large, coordinated one. Unlike earlier protests that focused on Washington, D.C., these events were spread out all over the country. People gathered at state capitols, city halls, parks, and government buildings. Many of the smaller rallies were organized by local neighbors and friends.

Who Organized the Protests?

Many well-known groups helped organize or support the protests. Some of the main partners listed on the official "Hands Off!" website were the 50501 movement, the American Civil Liberties Union, Indivisible, and the Democratic Socialists of America.

Other types of groups that participated include:

Conservation: Groups that work to protect the environment, like Greenpeace and 350.org.
Women's rights: Organizations like the National Women's Political Caucus.
Unions and workers' rights: Many large labor unions like the AFL-CIO and the United Auto Workers joined in to support workers.
Civil rights: Groups that fight for the rights of all people, including the Autistic Self Advocacy Network and the Arab American Institute.
LGBTQ+ rights: Organizations that support the rights of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Pride At Work.
Economic issues: Groups focused on fairness in the economy, like Americans for Tax Fairness.
Religious groups: Faith-based organizations like the Interfaith Alliance also took part.

Protests Across the Country and the World

The protests were not just in one place; they happened everywhere. Rallies took place in all 50 U.S. states, in big cities and small towns alike. The goal was to show that people all over the country shared the same concerns.

The largest protest was in Washington, D.C., where organizers estimated that about 100,000 people gathered. This was ten times more than they had expected. In Boston, between 25,000 and 30,000 people marched. Thousands also gathered in other major cities like New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles.

The protests also went international. In Canada, people gathered outside the U.S. embassy in Ottawa. In Europe, Americans living abroad organized events in cities like Berlin, Lisbon, and Paris to show their support.