Thousands in SoCal join national ‘Hands Off!’ protest against Trump and Musk

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES (KABC) — Thousands of people gathered throughout Southern California Saturday as part of a nationwide series of “Hands Off!” demonstrations in opposition to the Trump administration’s steep tariffs, program cuts and mass layoffs of federal workers.

More than 1,200 “Hands Off!” demonstrations were planned by more than 150 groups, including civil rights organizations, labor unions, LBGTQ+ advocates, veterans and elections activists.

In Southern California, several local cities joined the national “Hands Off!” protest, including downtown Los Angele.

AIR7 was over the scene at around 4:30 p.m. as more than 5,000 people gathered in Pershing Square in downtown L.A. to demand the president stop what they’re calling an “assault on families, jobs, healthcare, and social security.”

Demonstrators carried a 20-foot-tall balloon of the image of President Donald Trump wearing a diaper and a 15-foot-tall helium-filled balloon representing Trump wearing a Russian military uniform during a march along a nearly mile-long stretch of sidewalks and streets.

At around 5 p.m., the crowd flooded the streets of downtown L.A. as they started marching toward City Hall in response to what they described as a frustrating first few months of President Trump’s second term.

“We’re not okay with him taking our human rights,” said Erica Ortiz, who was dressed as the Statue of Liberty in shackles, a local artist’s version of what America looks like right now.

“It says so much without saying anything at all and it has inspired people. It has woken people up,” said artist Maria Flores Scott.

Among the signs carried by demonstrators: “Eggs are too expensive. Eat the rich,” “It’s not left vs right. It’s the oligarchy vs all of us,” and “Trump is Tarifying.”

“We’re barely two months into Trump’s chaos and the country is reeling from his reckless firing of millions of workers, the breaking up of tens of thousands of families and plans to gut funding to our health care and Social Security,” organizer Emily Williams said.

At least 100 protests and marches were planned throughout the region Saturday, including events in Glendale, Riverside and Santa Ana. Organizations believed to be represented included ACLU, 50501 SoCal, Greenpeace, League of Women Voters, Planned Parenthood Action Fund and Working Families Power, according to the Hands Off! website.

Trump has yet to comment on what organizers called a “mass mobilization day,” but the White House rescheduled one of its annual spring garden tour dates due to the large anti-Trump demonstration expected to take place near 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Trump spent his Saturday on his golf course in Florida competing in the senior club championships.

Bystanders caught a glimpse of him in his motorcade. The White House put out a statement celebrating his win and told reporters that he will advance to the championship round tomorrow.

Locals in Palm Springs called the “hands Off!” protest the biggest rally they had ever seen in their resort town.

The widespread message was simple: hands off libraries, national parks, the Department of Education, DEI, hands off anything and everything the Trump administration is cutting.

Other “Hands Off!” rallies throughout the Southland Saturday included the following:

The Associated Press and City News Service contributed to this report.