‘Hands Off!' Louisiana joins nationwide rally against Trump policies

Yahoo

05-04-2025

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)— Protesters across the country, including in Shreveport rallied to demand that President Trump and Elon Musk leave essential policies, such as healthcare, important data, jobs, and vital services, alone.
On Saturday, April 5th, Shreveport, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and Lake Charles joined the movement to 'Demand: Hands Off!' with a direct response to what organizers call an 'ongoing power grab' by the President Trump and billionare Musk.
Protesters say they are seizing control over essential parts of the country, such as healthcare, important data, jobs and vital services.
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'We are for the people, and I'm here with the people. And I'm ready to stand against the commander in chief, DOGE, and anybody else who wants to take our rights away because it's not right, and we as people of the United States of America have to come together collectively To defend ourselves. To fight for not only my rights, my kids rights, fellow veterans rights, and American Right' says Veteran and AFGE 2525 President, Chantelle Jones.
Amongst the peaceful protesters, lining Caddo Parish Courthouse, was Shreveport Attorney, Pat Gilley.
'I'm trying to keep our Constitution alive, our democracy alive, and I'm so terrified that it's going to be gone before I'm dead. So I'm gonna be out here and I don't care what kind of weather I'm gonna be out here. I'm gonna remind people if you want that democracy, you gotta fight for that democracy,' says the 2023 Caddo Sheriff candidate, Gilley.
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The organizers of Hands Off 2025 say, 'they want to strip America for parts—shuttering Social Security offices, firing essential workers, eliminating consumer protections, and gutting Medicaid—all to bankroll their billionaire tax scam.'
Hands Off 2025 says they are fighting for their communities including veterans, kids, seniors, farmers, immigrants, transgender people and they are not stopping with today's movement.
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According to the organizers, a core principle behind all Hands Off! events is a commitment to nonviolent action. They say, 'this is just the begining with plans to continue pushing back against what they call 'the destruction of our democracy.'
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