On Saturday, thousands participated in rallies worldwide as part of the Hands Off movement.
In Minnesota, around 25,000 people gathered at the State Capitol, marking what is believed to be the largest rally since the 2017 Women’s March.
The event, organized by MN50501, Indivisible Twin Cities, and Women’s March Minnesota, saw activists, Democratic politicians, and everyday citizens condemning the Trump administration’s policies, such as closing Social Security offices, reducing protections for transgender individuals, and cutting federal jobs.
Bernie Burnham, president of MN AFL-CIO, highlighted that approximately 18,000 federal employees in Minnesota have been affected.
Disabled war veteran Joy Marver shared her experience of losing her job at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, alongside colleagues who were dismissed despite excellent performance reviews.
Minnesota lawmakers, including Rep. Betty McCollum and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, expressed their support for the rally, acknowledging the widespread public outcry.
In response to the protests, the White House reaffirmed President Trump’s commitment to protecting Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, while criticizing Democratic positions on these programs.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, who joined a rally in Duluth, emphasized that this was only the beginning of ongoing protests.
The rallies, held across the state and nation, were part of a broader movement, with at least one rally in each of the 50 states. The Republican Party of Minnesota expressed support for free speech but criticized the event for being organized by progressive groups.
