Nationwide Event Draws Anti-Trump Protesters in Cities Across US

WASHINGTON – Thousands of protesters gathered around Washington Memorial in Washington on April 5th, a nationwide “Hands Off!” day of protests against the Trump administration.

As the crowds loomed, several democratic lawmakers joined in with political activists making statements from the stage at the Sylvan Theatre, a little further away from the Washington memorial.

“We need to use everything in our toolbox. We can’t put some of the movement aside. We need mutual assistance. We need protest. We need direct action. We need legislative strategy.” “We have promised that our opposition doesn’t leave tools in their toolbox, so we need to file a lawsuit in court.”

The demonstrations in the country’s capital were just one element of a massively coordinated event that overlapped and coordinated in cities across the United States.

Nearly 200 organizations worked together to support more than 1,000 scheduled demonstrations in all 50 states.

Among the groups represented were LGBT, abortion and environmental advocacy groups, as well as unions and Democratic organizers.

“If you still want a country that believes in a legitimate process, we must fight for it. If we believe in a country that cares our neighbors, cares for the poor, and ensures that our children have a future where they can believe, we must fight for it.”

Speaking to the Epoch Times at one rally in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Andrea Davis said, “I want to see the Democrats really get excited and do something really big.” Davis gestured to the crowd of hundreds who gathered along the banks of the Tennessee River, saying, “This is a start, but we have to work hard.”

On his way to join other protesters in the country’s capital, Renee Steinhagen told the Epoch Times that he was trying to share his disappointment with the US policy towards the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip.

After terrorist group Hamas attacked southern Israel and captured hostages on October 7, 2023, Israeli forces launched a military campaign to eliminate Hamas and restore prisoners of war.

Gaza’s Ministry of Public Health, which operates under the auspices of the territory’s Hamas-led government, reports that tens of thousands of people have been killed in the ongoing battle. The Gaza Ministry of Health does not distinguish between combatants and non-combatants, and accurate victim numbers cannot be verified independently.

Last month, Israeli forces resumed combat operations in the war-torn Gaza Strip.

Another demonstrator at the Washington event, Rachel Over Street, said she is against several aspects of US foreign policy. She said the dissatisfaction is heading towards US policies regarding the Gaza conflict and the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Devin McCullough, wearing a red shirt, who read “Stop Genocide in Gaza” as he stood with other Chattanooga protesters, also expressed concern about the deaths of civilians on war-torn territory, saying he was discouraged by Democrats during the Epoch era. McCullough, who said he was always leaning against the liberals, said he still feels he should take part in a national protest against the Trump administration.

“It feels like this current administration is steaming everything, and that’s one of the reasons why I’m here,” he said.

In addition to his red Gaza shirt, McCullough held a poster criticizing Trump’s recent tariff actions.

When asked how he felt about Musk and Kudge, McCullough said he was not opposed to efforts to streamline the government’s processes and eliminate wasted spending, but he said he was worried about the Doge approach.

“They say one person is swooping down, laying off thousands of federal workers and saving money, but they’re not targeting individual spending,” he said.

The counter has settled down

As anti-Trump protesters lined up on the street a block away from the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga on Saturday, the event coordinator provided instructions on what to do if attendees meet people who are not in line with the protest event. She instructed attendees to be non-violent and open to exchange of vision if possible, but advised everyone to keep distance if the protesters appear excessively confrontational.

The event coordinator further instructed that attendees should advocate “US” over conflicting reversal agents. He said the hymn will serve as a signal to security teams dressed in orange reflective vests.

At one point in the Chattanooga protest, the flags of white pickup trucks flying through the Trump campaign began to slowly roll with anti-Trump protesters lined up on either side. The truck passengers met a mixture of “US” chants, boos, whistles and jeers. The truck made several more passes along the protest route.

An hour later, a handful of obvious rebels emerged at the Chattanooga protests. Some identified himself in the Epoch era only as Steve, and said his second name was William. After a brief confrontation with anti-Trump protesters, both men chose to remain a little distance from the main crowd.

Brooke Hadden said she came out at the protest on Saturday to see what was going on and exchange opinions. Apart from the main crowd, Hadden and Steve discussed a variety of topics, ranging from immigration to whether men can compete in women’s sports.

“There are some reasons here that I actually agree and care about. There are a few things that I haven’t been late,” Hadden said.

Signs of organized opposition candidates were equally sparse at the Washington rally.

The Epoch Times crossed paths with a group of high school students in Alabama, all wearing Trump campaign products. Several people in the group said it happened in a coincidence of anti-Trump protests.