Americans in all 50 states rallied on Saturday against what they say is a dangerous dismantling of civil rights and essential government services under President Donald Trump and advisor Elon Musk.
Massive turnout at today’s #HandsOff! rally in St. Paul, Minnesota h/t Eric Blanc
Posted by Fight for a Union on Saturday, April 5, 2025
Minnesota rallies join national ‘Hands Off!’ protest movement
Minnesotans gathered across the state on Saturday, April 5, to join the nationwide “Hands Off!” protests targeting President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s sweeping federal cuts. Major rallies took place at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul, as well as in Duluth, Rochester, and several smaller towns.
Hundreds converged on the Capitol lawn waving signs like “Hands Off Our Communities” and “Stop the Trump-Musk Takeover.” The protests were part of a larger national push opposing recent government actions, including:
- Massive federal worker layoffs
- Closure of rural Social Security offices
- Cuts to health and diversity programs
- Rollbacks in protections for immigrants and LGBTQ+ communities
“We’re here to say enough is enough,” said Amina Daniels, a local organizer with the Minnesota Justice Collective. “These cuts are hurting working people, disabled folks, immigrants—this is not the America we were promised.”
“In America, we do not have a king,” said Senator Amy Klobochar after taking an early morning flight from Washington, D.C. to attend the rally.
Demonstrators called Musk’s influence over public policy “undemocratic,” pointing to his role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency, which has led the charge on dismantling several federal agencies.
Some attendees also voiced concern about the ripple effects of the federal cuts on state programs and local jobs, particularly in Minnesota’s rural areas.
Organizers say more protests and community organizing efforts are planned in the weeks ahead.
Nationwide protests challenge sweeping federal cuts
In a sweeping show of defiance, over 1,200 “Hands Off!” rallies were held across the country on April 5, 2025, from major cities like Washington, D.C., to smaller communities such as Duluth, Minnesota. United by a coalition of civil rights organizations, labor unions, immigration advocates, and LGBTQ+ groups, the movement took aim at a series of federal cutbacks implemented under the Trump administration.
In St. Paul, hundreds gathered at the Minnesota State Capitol carrying signs like “Hands Off Our Rights” and “No Billionaire Takeover.” Organizers said they were protesting a coordinated attack on public programs and vulnerable communities.
“This is not about efficiency—it’s about control”
Paul Osadebe, a labor union attorney and speaker at the D.C. march, did not mince words.
“They are devaluing public workers and harming our communities,” Osadebe said. “This is not about efficiency—it’s about control.”
Protesters say the Trump administration’s appointment of Elon Musk as head of the Department of Government Efficiency has turned government operations into a for-profit experiment, slashing what they call lifelines for working-class Americans.
Trump and Musk’s policy moves under fire
The protests were sparked by a series of rapid-fire changes to the federal government, including:
The layoff of over 20,000 IRS employees, approximately 25% of the agency’s workforce Closure of Social Security offices, particularly in rural and low-income areas Increased deportations through enhanced ICE operations The near-elimination of the IRS civil rights office Defunding of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives
These changes were authorized through a series of executive orders signed by President Trump and implemented by Musk’s department.
“This is a billionaire takeover of government,” said Amina Daniels, a Minneapolis organizer who attended the rally in St. Paul. “We didn’t vote for Elon Musk, and yet he’s calling the shots.”
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White House responds, critics push back
In a short press release, the White House defended the moves, claiming the administration is working to “streamline government, protect vital programs, and eliminate waste.” A spokesperson also blamed Democrats for “reckless spending and bureaucratic bloat.”
But those statements have done little to ease public concern. Protesters say the administration’s approach is authoritarian in tone and devastating in impact.
Organizers vow to keep the movement growing
While Saturday’s protests didn’t match the scale of the 2017 Women’s March or the 2020 Black Lives Matter demonstrations, organizers believe they’ve struck a nerve.
“This isn’t a one-off moment,” said Rosa Valdez, an organizer with Hands Off! “We’re just getting started. Communities everywhere are waking up to what’s being lost.”
The coalition behind the movement plans to continue its efforts through voter mobilization, legal challenges, and more public demonstrations in the weeks ahead.
