The opponents of President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk have congregated this Saturday throughout the United States to protest against administration’s actions in government reduction, economy, human rights and other issues, as published by the Associated Press news agency.
More than 150 groups, such as civil rights organizations, unions, defenders of LGBTQ+, veterans and electoral activists, have organized more than 1,200 demonstrations with the motto “Hands Off” (“Hands outside!”). The protests have been carried out in the National Mall in Washington, DC, the state capitals and other parts in the 50 states.
Protesters criticize Trump’s government measures to dismiss thousands of federal workers, close social security field offices, eliminate entire agencies, deport immigrants, reduce protections for transgender people and cut federal financing for health programs.
Musk, Trump advisor and owner of Tesla, Spacex and the social network X, has played a key role in the reduction of government as head of the newly created government efficiency department (Doge). He states that he is saving billions to taxpayers.
In the protest of Washington, Paul Osadebe, lawyer of the Department of Urban Housing and Development of the United States and union delegate, has criticized Trump, Musk and other members of the Administration for not assessing the work that federal employees do by creating “a base of economic security and power for working people.”
“The billionaires and oligarchs value anything more than profits and power, and certainly do not value your life or your community,” he said. “And we see that they don’t care who they have to destroy or who they have to hurt to get what they want.”
In Massachusetts, thousands of people have gathered in Boston Common with posters that said “hands outside our democracy”, “hands outside our Social Security” and “Diversity, equity and inclusion make the United States strong. Hands outside!”
