Students Join Nationwide ‘Hands Off!’ Protest Against Trump Administration

Thousands of Chicagoans flooded Daley Plaza April 5 in protest of President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s deportations and cuts to government programs, among a number of other causes. The protest was part of the “Hands Off!” rally, which spanned more than 1,200 locations across all 50 states, The Associated Press reported.

Demonstrators chanted and brandished signs criticizing the administration’s federal job cuts, role in the War in Gaza and increased deportations, among other issues. The rally started in Daley Plaza at 12:00 p.m. and lasted till 3:00 p.m.

The White House said it would protect welfare programs and claimed Democrats are the ones who are going to hurt seniors.

“President Trump’s position is clear — he will always protect Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid for eligible beneficiaries. Meanwhile, the Democrats’ stance is giving Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare benefits to illegal aliens, which will bankrupt these programs and crush American seniors,” the White House said in a statement to The AP.

Loyola students were among the demonstrators voicing their concerns at the event.

“Not doing anything really isn’t an option for me, which is why I’m here protesting and making my voice heard. Because if we don’t make our voices heard, who’s going to stop it?” first-year global studies major Malory Frame said 

Frame said other Loyola students should speak out on government acts they don’t approve of. She said she understands students are busy, but it’s also important they publicly voice their opinions on issues. 

First-year political science and global studies major Penelope Brazelton said she was encouraged to participate by the amount of people who came out to protest. She said she was especially impressed with the turnout of older people who care about the same issues as her, like protecting immigrants and LGBTQ+ rights.

Trump previously stoked fear about transgender people accessing bathrooms and playing sports. As of 2020, about half of all states have banned transgender athletes from sports competitions aligning with their gender or gender-affirming care, The AP reported.

She said seeing people of all demographics fighting for the same cause was empowering and helped her feel less isolated and powerless in the face of the Trump administration’s actions. 

First-year political science major Kytlan Elliot and fellow members of The Loyola College Democrats chapter attended the protest and promoted the event on social media.

“It’s a lot about what Elon and D.O.G.E. and about the tariffs and the American people don’t want this and I don’t really want this so that’s why I went,” said Elliot.

Billionaire and Tesla CEO Musk rapidly gained power within the federal government and has Trump’s ear, The AP reported. His Department of Government Efficiency is responsible for firing thousands of federal government employees and freezing trillions of dollars in federal grant spending.

“We could see there were just blocks and blocks of people marching,” Brazelton said. “That was really inspiring.” 

First-year political science and women’s studies and gender studies major Emilia Winstead said she found out about the protest through TikTok and told her friends to come with her to the rally. 

An estimated 30,000 people gathered at the Chicago rally, which was promoted by organizations like the Service Employees International Union, Indivisible Chicago, Personal PAC and the Chicago Federation of Labor, according to Block Club Chicago.

The organizations endorsing the event advocate for a wide variety of issues, including abortion access, democratic values, workers’ rights and immigrant rights.
There have been many protests during Trump’s second term, but none have produced the mass mobilization seen at Saturday’s rally, The AP reported.