Latest news with #HandsOff2025
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hands Off 2025 movement marches in Altoona, State College
ALTOONA, Pa. (WTAJ)—Altoona and State College residents took to the streets for 'Hands Off 2025,' a national mass mobilization day to voice their concerns and frustrations with the Trump administration. The goal of the movement is to deliver a message on how President Donald Trump and Senior Adviser to the President Elon Musk, most known for his role in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), are crippling the average American by cutting federal programs and jobs for what they say is their own benefit. 'Billionaires are taking over the country,' event organizer Carol Taylor said. 'What we have is government by Sharpie. Just an executive order taking away a lot of the individuals that support and help communities in terms of health issues, the disabled, Social Security, Medicaid, consumer protection, regulation of banks and regulation of of our environment.' Hundreds of people showed up to the Heritage Plaza in downtown Altoona, the Sydney Friedman Park in State College and the Allen St. Gate at Penn State University with signs showing their disapproval of the current state of the federal government. They focused on many topics like education, Medicare and conservation efforts; programs that were affected by the cuts made by DOGE. 'My husband is a veteran. He fought in Vietnam, and they're taking away some of his care,' protester Edie Carey said. 'I'm fighting for Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid. People that live off of these programs that are going to go.' 'There's a lot of complex things going on, as you can tell by the ordeal that is going on in a lot of positions, but it's a lot of anger and that's a good thing,' protester Lawrence Carter said. 'We want to have programs that protect consumers. We want strong schools that build strong communities,' Taylor added. While many protesters came out for different reasons, Taylor feels the crowd felt more united underneath the same core principle. 'This is about unity. It doesn't matter what party you are, what religion you are, what race you are. We all have the same concerns,' Taylor said. The main targets were President Trump and Musk for the protest. However, some residents took the opportunity to call out local leaders for their role in the federal cutbacks. Carter called out US Representative John Joyce (R-13th) for his role in the Medicare and Medicaid cutbacks. 'You have to start at the bottom and work your way up the list.,' Carter said. 'And Dr. Joyce is the bottom here.' Protesters believe the message they are conveying is for the betterment of the country. By calling out leaders, they feel they can have them become public servants to their constituents. 'We come together to demand that government be for the people, not for themselves,' Taylor said. 'When we stand up for each other, that's when we can make the change,' Carey added. 'What helps one of us helps all of us.' WTAJ reached out to Blair County Republican Committee leader Jim Foreman for a comment. We have not received a response at this time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Northland rallies oppose Trump administration
Apr. 5—SUPERIOR — Hundreds of people lined both sides of Belknap Street near the Douglas County Courthouse carrying signs and joining chants in protest of the Trump administration's actions. It was just one of the events taking place Saturday, April 5, across the Northland and the United States. Similar Hands Off! mass mobilizations took place in Chisholm, Cloquet, Duluth, Ely, Grand Marais and Grand Rapids in Minnesota. The nationwide mobilization was organized to stop what the Hands Off 2025 website called "the most brazen power grab in modern history." "This is all very important to me," said Mary Smith-Johnson of Superior, one of the organizers of the demonstration in Superior. "I'm a retired special education teacher. I'm union. I'm a grandparent. I'm going to start receiving Social Security, health care. And I've felt like in northern Wisconsin we've been very quiet, and we needed to do something." There was nothing quiet Saturday as chants rose from the crowd such as "This is what democracy looks like." Horns blared as passing motorists blasted support for justice and democracy at the behest of signs held by protesters at both ends of the rally. Organizers were trying to get a count but estimated about 500 people turned out in Superior. Concern about the potential of losing the nation's democracy and the rights the people have had their entire lives inspired Rachel Warner of Superior to attend the mass mobilization in Superior. Warner cited climate change, women's rights, reproductive rights, the cancellation of the U.S. Agency for International Development, destruction of relationships with NATO partners, the economic consequences of tariffs and the instability they create, threats to public education if the Department of Education is eliminated as just some of the concerns she has with the Trump administration. "I don't know how we'll fund special education, IEPs and things like that," Warner said. "We can't just roll that onto Superior; Superior can't afford that." Denise McDonald of Superior was out to protect people's rights, particularly for the elderly. She said protecting Medicare, Social Security and Medicaid are important to her. "My mom's in a nursing home," McDonald said. "So, yeah, I definitely don't want to lose that because she gets help." McDonald said while her mother pays for a portion of her care, Medicaid helps fill the gap. "I just think it's important for people who feel strongly to do what they can and to object to all of the cutbacks that are changing our quality of life ...," said Pat Murphy of Herbster. "I voted, and I did not vote for this. I think a lot of people feel the same way, and it's gotten worse every day." Murphy said rallies like the Hands Off! mass mobilization offer community togetherness that makes people feel less fragile and hopeless in an impossible situation. "There's so many angles; it's affecting so many people," said Brenda Goetz of Port Wing. She said veterans, the park service, even the federal lands that have been protected for years are being affected by the decisions being made by the Trump administration. "I'm a postal service employee, and I'm afraid they're coming after the United States Postal Service and that's going to be taken away from the American people as a service and turned it into a business," Goetz said. "The prices will go up and the quality of service will go down, and probably my union will go away." For Tom Wilson of Eau Claire, the Hands Off! event in Superior was his second one Saturday. Wilson said he also attended the mobilization in Duluth, which he said drew about 2,500 people with only one heckler in the crowd. "I've been political all my life," said Wilson, who will turn 80 next month. Going back to the early 1960s, Wilson said he's been involved in protests for civil rights, against war, and for the environment, and as critical as those issues were, this moment feels even more critical. "If you read the Declaration of Independence, almost any one of our grievances against King George equally apply to Donald 2.0," Wilson said "That's it. The very truly founding principles of our country are at risk at this point."
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
More than 100 people turn out for Hands Off Jamestown event
Apr. 5—JAMESTOWN — About 130 people gathered on public sidewalks on Mill Hill and 10th Street on Saturday in Jamestown, holding signs in a peaceful protest about cuts to federal programs and the direction of the federal government. The Jamestown Hands Off March was held "in solidarity" with other Hands Off 2025 events around the country, according to Olivia Schloegel, who organized the local event with Barb Lang. Both are members at large of the League of Women Voters of North Dakota, and members of the organization co-hosted the event. "It was meant to be a peaceful, brief but impactful demonstration to show our people power," Schloegel said. "And people are just really scared, a lot of people, so it's good to be together." She said in an email to The Jamestown Sun that the event was a "peaceful collective statement of concern for the checks and balances of government and a call for our representatives to stand up against the destructive cuts to federal services, programs and jobs." The Hands Off 2025 website said April 5 was a day for people to take to the streets nationwide with the message "Hands off!" to fight back against Donald Trump and Elon Musk "taking everything they can get their hands on and daring the world to stop them." Schloegel said people are affected locally by federal cuts, from Social Security to a USDA program that provided food for schools. "And so we wanted to make sure that local folks had an opportunity to show up and speak out against what we don't agree with, which is these destructive cuts at the federal level," she said. People participating carried signs about various issues. Most walked from the sidewalk in front of Newman Signs down Mill Hill, where they were met by others, then stood on the sidewalk holding the signs facing traffic. Some vehicles honked their horns as they drove by in apparent support. Hands Off protests were also scheduled Saturday in Bismarck, Fargo and Minot. The national League of Women Voters was a partner in the coalition in bringing the national day of action event together. Others included the National Education Association, Interfaith Alliance, Human Rights Campaign, United Automobile Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America and Stand Up for Science. A North Dakota News Cooperative poll of 500 North Dakota voters released in March found 52% approved of the job that Donald Trump was doing as president, and 59% approved of the Department of Government Efficiency led by Elon Musk. Several people shared with The Jamestown Sun about the issues that brought them to the event. "I believe that our democracy is at risk and that if we don't stand up, that our Congress is going to let our democracy go away," said Patty Richter. "They're going to let autocracy and oligarchy take over and we will have no more rights. We can be plucked off the streets. We will go the same way as the Nazis did in the 1930s, and we have to do something because our senators, (John) Hoeven and (Kevin) Cramer, are doing absolutely nothing." As a retiree, she is also worried about Social Security and the impact of losing Medicaid on families. "I believe that they are going against the Constitution," Joyce Schulz said. "That we need to protect our national parks. That we need to protect Social Security, that we need to protect free speech and to the rule of law, which is not being followed right now in the United States with all of the executive orders and not listening to the judicial branch." Penny Briese said she was standing up for veterans. "I am a veteran and I'm appalled what's happening to our Veterans Administration. I'm here as a woman," she said. "I'm appalled what they're trying to do to our voting rights, especially married women and poor married women. I am just appalled at what they're doing to our public lands. I mean, those lands belong to us. Donald Trump is our servant. He is here to serve us. What he's doing right now, this is not service to the American people." Lynne Tally, former executive director of Safe Shelter, said cuts to the health department and office that helps combat violence against women brought her to the event. "I'm really concerned that it's going to have a really negative effect on the work that I did for 41 years," she said. "Helping people who are victims of domestic violence and sexual assault." Alan Carlson said the list was long. "I'm here to get Trump out of the way of Social Security, veterans benefits, messing with our kids education, women's choice, it goes on and on and on," he said. "I can't imagine people not standing up." The tariffs were another concern. "My retirement account went down $85,000 in the last two days and I'm a retired teacher so $85,000 to me is my livelihood," Carlson said. "To help trans kids, gay people," Sue Borg said of her reason for participating. "They're just treated like they're not humans." One woman, who did not want to be identified, said "millions of people are suffering because of these actions. And so I want to do something and this is something I can do." Dina Laskowski said it was important for people to come together as a community to support each other. "You know, you're looking at social services, you're looking at things that really impact our community. And all communities," she said. "And if we don't start joining hands ... the hands off is hands off change (to) certain policies that are going to affect our community." She said people are more divisive and should be unified. "You have differences of opinion, everybody looks at things in different perspectives," she said. "That's the important thing, is that we listen to each other and come to a conclusion that affects not 50% but 80 and 90% of the population."
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Hands Off!' Louisiana joins nationwide rally against Trump policies
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. Trump's mass deportation costs US billions '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. Trump administration plans to cut 80,000 employees from Veterans Affairs 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. President Trump executive order to cut 280M acres of national forests 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.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
More than 500,000 people expected at anti-Trump rallies nationwide
April 5 (UPI) -- More than 500,000 people across the United States are predicted to oppose President Donald Trump's "authoritarian overreach and billionaire-backed agenda" at more than 1,000 events nationwide, the largest protest since he became president again two months ago, organizers said. The event, which MoveOn is calling Hands Off, involves a host of labor, environmental and other progressive groups, including Indivisible, Women's March, Working Families Power,and Public Citizen. Newer grassroots groups, including 505051, that formed since Trump's election day victory last year also are participating. "Donald Trump and Elon Musk think think this country belong to them," organizers wrote on the Hands Off 2025 website. "They're taking everything they can get their hands on, and daring the world to stop them. On Saturday, April 5th, we're taking the streets nationwide to fight back with a clear message: Hands Off!" One day after Trump became president the first time on Jan. 21, 2017, at least 470,000 turned out for the Women's March protest in Washington D.C. and millions more at rallies in the nation. That event was focused on women's issues, including abortion. More than 500,000 people RSVP'd to attend the marches and demonstration ahead of their start on Saturday morning. "This is shaping up to be the biggest single-day protest in the last several years of American history," Ezra Levi, a found of Indivisible, said in an organizing call, The Guardian reported. The largest event is expected to be at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and is scheduled to start at noon. Members of Congress will be on hand to deliver speeches, including three Democrat U.S. representatives, Jamie Raskin of Maryland, Maxwell Frost of Florida and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota. The times vary for other locations, including in big and small cities, and virtual events have also been scheduled. The protests are a response to job cuts across all federal agencies as well as cutbacks in services, including healthcare, veteran services, LGBTQ+ rights, free speech, consumer protections, as well as to recent deportations and the tactics used to enact them, according to organizers. "This mass mobilization day is our message to the world that we do not consent to the destruction of our government and our economy for the benefit of Trump and his billionaire allies. Alongside Americans across the country, we are marching, rallying, and protesting to demand a stop the chaos and build an opposition movement against the looting of our country," organizers wrote on the website. Protestors are specifically taking aim at Musk, who heads Tesla, SpaceX and X, and became a senior adviser to Trump to lead the Department of Government Efficiency. Events are scheduled in Palm Beach County, Florida, as well, because Trump is expected to be at his Mar-a-Lago estate there. The protests are occurring three days after Trump announced tariffs of at least 10% on products from foreign countries worldwide. The stock market has tumbled, including Nasdaq going into a bear market. The 10% baseline tariffs took effect for around 180 nations at midnight Saturday and they will increase further on April 9 for about 60 "worst offenders," Trump said. "What April 5th is really about is saying 'Hey folks, let's all come together in one day and show the power of our voices and ensure our voices are heard about what we're seeing coming out of the administration and to push back on these harms,'" MoveOn Executive Diect Rahna Epting said. The office of first lady Melania Trump moved the White House's annual spring garden tour to Sunday as a result of expected protests near the White House. "Anyone who thinks protests, lawsuits, and lawfare will deter President Trump must have been sleeping under a rock for the past several years," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told USA Today in a statement. "President Trump will not be deterred from delivering on the promises he made to make our federal government more efficient and more accountable to the hardworking American taxpayers across the country who overwhelmingly re-elected him," she said.
