Tens of thousands of Americans took to the streets on Saturday, April 5, in a sweeping wave of demonstrations targeting President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk. Over 1,200 separate protests were organized across all 50 states, mobilized by more than 150 civil rights groups, labor unions, LGBTQ+ organizations, veterans’ associations, and pro-democracy activists. Organizers said the events were a direct response to what they called “a systematic erosion of democratic institutions” under Trump’s administration.
One of the largest gatherings took place at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., where more than 20,000 people were expected to rally near the Washington Monument. Protesters carried banners reading “Not My President,” “Fascism Has Arrived,” and “Hands Off Our Social Security.” A massive sign bearing the words “Hands Off!” was unfurled just blocks from the White House.
Participants voiced outrage over what they described as authoritarian overreach, the rollback of social protections, and attacks on civil liberties. Demonstrations also extended internationally, with solidarity protests held in Paris, Rome, and London. Additional events were reported in Mexico and Canada.
In Baltimore, several hundred demonstrators gathered outside the headquarters of the U.S. Social Security Administration to protest what they described as targeted defunding of programs vital to the elderly and disabled. Protesters accused the Trump administration of seeking to “dismantle federal agencies,” enact mass layoffs of civil servants, and defund essential public health and welfare programs.
Jane Ellen Saums, a 66-year-old retired teacher from Virginia, expressed deep concern over the state of American democracy. “I’m terrified watching this administration tear down everything we’ve spent generations building. Social programs, voting rights, the Constitution — it’s all under threat,” she said.
Many rallies also included direct criticism of Elon Musk, whom some organizers accused of enabling online extremism and undermining social cohesion through his management of digital platforms. Musk was denounced for allegedly allowing hate speech and disinformation to flourish unchecked.
Adding to the nationwide unrest, a historic moment unfolded in the U.S. Senate. Democratic Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey staged a record-breaking filibuster, speaking for over 25 hours to oppose recent Republican legislation and sound the alarm about what he called “the authoritarian drift” of Trump’s policies. His speech marked the longest in the modern history of the upper chamber of Congress.
Saturday’s nationwide demonstrations underscore the deep divisions in American society and reflect growing anxiety over the direction of U.S. governance. Organizers vowed to continue mobilizing as the 2024 election cycle intensifies.
