Hundreds of protesters gather at Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco during a nationwide movement taking aim at the Trump administration’s recent policies and actions.
Thousands of people rallied in San Francisco’s Civic Center Plaza on Saturday to condemn President Donald Trump and Elon Musk as part of nationwide Hands Off! protests.
Demonstrators held up signs and chanted together in opposition to Trump and Musk’s newly created Department of Government Efficiency firings of federal workers, cuts to federal programs, and DOGE gaining access to private data of Americans.
“Trump must go! Trump must go!” protesters yelled.
They also denounced Trump’s executive orders targeting immigration, gender identity, climate change, the economy and international trade relations.
“I am proud to be here and unfortunately that we need to be here,” said Beatrice Krivetsky, who was sitting in a wheelchair while she held a sign reading “Oppose the Immigration Crackdown.”
“I am proud to demonstrate and say out loud that we need the America we’re familiar with,” Krivetsky said. “I’m fighting for all the immigrants who have come here expecting a great a country.”
Some protesters and speakers held up signs and chanted slogans that called out what they perceive as a rise of fascism under the Trump administration.
Chris Bradshaw displays one of 10 Trump and five Musk heads at a protest on the corner of El Camino Real and Jefferson Avenue Saturday afternoon. More than 3,000 people lined El Camino Real to protest the Trump administration and government cuts proposed by Musk. The heads were made by a Portola Valley artist.
Mark Simon/Daily Journal
“We either hang together or we hang separately,” said state Assemblymember Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, in a speech at the rally. “We have to stay strong and not let these authoritarians get their way.”
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Alex U. Inn, a local drag king and LGBTQ+ rights activist, gave a speech that energized the massive crowd and emphasized the power of protest.
“We know the power of local action,” he said. “We know that change starts in our communities, in our neighborhoods, in our hearts. We know we can hold our elected officials accountable.”
“This is not an administration,” Inn said. “This is a freaking regime.”
Other speakers condemned Trump’s spending cuts to federal programs like Medicaid, Social Security, scientific research and public education.
“These programs are not luxuries, they’re lifelines,” said Ciara Lovelace, a disabled woman who said she depends on federal programs like Medi-Cal, California’s version of Medicaid.
“Medi-Cal covers my wheelchair, walker and crutches. Without them I literally could not leave my house,” she said.
The demonstration also drew some counter-protesters, who were drowned out by the deafening chants of the thousands rallying against Trump and Musk.
“This is what democracy looks like!” protesters yelled. “We fight back!”
Isn’t it amusing these folks are protesting in front of deep blue San Francisco or in front of the State Capitol in Sacramento? Meanwhile, 77+ million voters across the country have spoken. Fortunately for us, the Trump administration won’t make decisions based on protests and hate mail and coordinated left-wing rallies. It is amusing that nobody from the left has answered why they’re for waste, fraud, and abuse, and invasion of our country. Also, I wonder if some of these protestors realize that they’re “working” for free since their fellow protesters are being paid by far left organizations, such as those funded by Soros.
As always, I’d recommend anyone that attended or spectated to take plenty of pictures and video and if witnessing any vandalism or criminal acts, to forward footage to law enforcement and the FBI. BTW, I believe new polls show that our (yes, our) great President Trump’s approval rating has increased several points due to his tariff actions. Seems these organized protests are beginning to turn off moderate Dems, too. I guess voters, even Dems, aren’t too concerned about what the far left side of the Dem party has to say.
Cathy - this is not a protest without a significant boost from a yet to be identified financial source. Come on, thousands of folks who claim an organic march? All Trump is doing is following up on promises made, but not kept, by his predecessors.
Well Cathy - I understand that not everyone is in favor of what Trump is exposing. But, at the end of the day, after watching the plethora of news reports, I must ask how many of the participants, mostly bored middle-aged women, stood in line to get their Darwin awards. Not a one, when asked for specifics, could answer a cogent reason for being there, other than expressing their TDS sentiment. One participants, a Tesla car owner, on Next door, even asked if she could get a ride to the protest being afraid that someone would damage her vehicle. That says it all in a nut shell.
Thanks for your response, Ms. Baird, but can you attest to interrogating all protesters to verify they weren’t being paid? Seems to me you could have introduced yourself to them. Many professionally printed protest signs include websites who contributed to the cause. For example, we see a handsoff2025.com website being advertised on various signs. A website administered by indivisible.com – a left wing organization whose aim is to “resist” our (yes, our) great President Trump. If you contributed to any of these organizations, chances are likely that your, “Coffee on me” quip has become true, as part of your donation has been redistributed to a lucky, paid protester.
And as with many protesters and in perusing the handsoff2025.com website, one cannot find answers to a few simple questions. To wit, explaining why they are “all in” on continuing waste, fraud, and abuse, or continuing to keep violent criminal invaders to our country, or why they support domestic terrorism of Tesla cars and dealerships. Or, as Mr. van Ulden has described, perhaps, “Not a one, when asked for specifics, could answer a cogent reason for being there, other than expressing their TDS sentiment.” Perhaps you can provide a few simple answers but I’m betting most, if not all, are unable to. BTW, from a quick search, here’s a link highlighting a paid Florida protester (https://patch.com/florida/lakeland/tesla-protesters-paid-200-indivisible-paid-protest-theater). In the article are additional links showing protesters being bused to protests. Enjoy, and if you weren’t paid, you may want to contact indivisible.com to get your, or a refund on your, piece of the pie for a cup of coffee.
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(8) comments
Isn’t it amusing these folks are protesting in front of deep blue San Francisco or in front of the State Capitol in Sacramento? Meanwhile, 77+ million voters across the country have spoken. Fortunately for us, the Trump administration won’t make decisions based on protests and hate mail and coordinated left-wing rallies. It is amusing that nobody from the left has answered why they’re for waste, fraud, and abuse, and invasion of our country. Also, I wonder if some of these protestors realize that they’re “working” for free since their fellow protesters are being paid by far left organizations, such as those funded by Soros.
As always, I’d recommend anyone that attended or spectated to take plenty of pictures and video and if witnessing any vandalism or criminal acts, to forward footage to law enforcement and the FBI. BTW, I believe new polls show that our (yes, our) great President Trump’s approval rating has increased several points due to his tariff actions. Seems these organized protests are beginning to turn off moderate Dems, too. I guess voters, even Dems, aren’t too concerned about what the far left side of the Dem party has to say.
Nobody is being paid to protest. If you can introduce me to anybody who is being paid, I’d appreciate meeting them. Coffee on me.
Cathy - this is not a protest without a significant boost from a yet to be identified financial source. Come on, thousands of folks who claim an organic march? All Trump is doing is following up on promises made, but not kept, by his predecessors.
I think you underestimate the amount and intensity of dissatisfaction.
Well Cathy - I understand that not everyone is in favor of what Trump is exposing. But, at the end of the day, after watching the plethora of news reports, I must ask how many of the participants, mostly bored middle-aged women, stood in line to get their Darwin awards. Not a one, when asked for specifics, could answer a cogent reason for being there, other than expressing their TDS sentiment. One participants, a Tesla car owner, on Next door, even asked if she could get a ride to the protest being afraid that someone would damage her vehicle. That says it all in a nut shell.
Thanks for your response, Ms. Baird, but can you attest to interrogating all protesters to verify they weren’t being paid? Seems to me you could have introduced yourself to them. Many professionally printed protest signs include websites who contributed to the cause. For example, we see a handsoff2025.com website being advertised on various signs. A website administered by indivisible.com – a left wing organization whose aim is to “resist” our (yes, our) great President Trump. If you contributed to any of these organizations, chances are likely that your, “Coffee on me” quip has become true, as part of your donation has been redistributed to a lucky, paid protester.
And as with many protesters and in perusing the handsoff2025.com website, one cannot find answers to a few simple questions. To wit, explaining why they are “all in” on continuing waste, fraud, and abuse, or continuing to keep violent criminal invaders to our country, or why they support domestic terrorism of Tesla cars and dealerships. Or, as Mr. van Ulden has described, perhaps, “Not a one, when asked for specifics, could answer a cogent reason for being there, other than expressing their TDS sentiment.” Perhaps you can provide a few simple answers but I’m betting most, if not all, are unable to. BTW, from a quick search, here’s a link highlighting a paid Florida protester (https://patch.com/florida/lakeland/tesla-protesters-paid-200-indivisible-paid-protest-theater). In the article are additional links showing protesters being bused to protests. Enjoy, and if you weren’t paid, you may want to contact indivisible.com to get your, or a refund on your, piece of the pie for a cup of coffee.
Yes, please, hands off fraud and waste! We need the gravy train.
A lot of people “descended on” Redwood City and San Mateo, too.
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
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Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.