Gambiaj.com—(New York, United States) – Millions of people across all 50 U.S. states and globally participated in mass demonstrations on Saturday, organized by a pro-democracy movement protesting what they describe as a “hostile takeover” and an attack on American rights and freedoms by President Donald Trump and Elon Musk.

Over 1,400 “Hands Off!” protests took place at various locations, including state capitols, federal buildings, congressional offices, and city halls. Organizers stated their demands included an end to the “billionaire power grab,” the restoration of funding for programs like Medicaid and Social Security, and a halt to attacks on immigrant and LGBTQ+ communities.

“Whether you are mobilized by the attacks on our democracy, the slashing of jobs, the invasion of privacy, or the assault on our services – this moment is for you,” organizers stated in event flyers, aiming to demonstrate a “massive, visible, national rejection” of the current administration’s policies.

According to Indivisible, a leading organization in the movement, nearly 600,000 people signed up for the events, which also saw participation in major international cities like London and Paris. The coalition behind the protests includes civil rights organizations, veterans, women’s rights groups, labor unions, and LGBTQ+ advocates.

During the Washington, D.C., protest, Democratic representatives, including Jamie Raskin of Maryland and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, spoke out against the Trump administration. Raskin condemned the administration’s policies, stating, “Our founders wrote a Constitution that does not begin with ‘We the dictators,’ the preamble says ‘We the people.’”

Omar urged protesters to “fight for” a country that “takes care of our neighbors.” Florida Rep. Maxwell Frost also spoke, urging various forms of action against what he described as a rising authoritarianism.

Protesters in Los Angeles marched towards City Hall, chanting “Power to the People” and holding signs expressing opposition to the administration’s policies.

The protests highlighted concerns over the administration’s efforts to cut federal spending, leading to job losses and program cuts. Musk, heading the “Department of Government Efficiency,” was criticized for misleading the public about federal spending and dismantling agencies like USAID.

The administration’s immigration policies, including aggressive pressure on ICE for migrant arrests, and its stance on climate change, with plans to roll back environmental regulations, were also key points of contention.

The arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian refugee, raised concerns about the suppression of free speech. Organizers emphasized that the administration’s actions target various groups, including veterans, seniors, immigrants, and transgender individuals, to consolidate power.

While most protests remained peaceful, an incident in Lafayette, Indiana, involved a man with a firearm, leading to police intervention. However, he was released after an investigation determined he did not aim the weapon at anyone.

Labor union presidents, including Randy Erwin of the National Federation of Federal Employees and Everett Kelley of the American Federation of Government Employees, condemned the administration’s attacks on federal employees and collective bargaining rights. They vowed to continue fighting against the administration’s policies.

The Trump administration has been reshaping the federal workforce, ending remote work and overriding union agreements. CNN’s latest tally indicates that over 121,000 federal workers have been fired.

Source: CNN