Hands Off: People’s Nonviolent Uprising Against Injustice In US
Siby K. Joseph
On April 5, 2025 the United States witnessed a mass mobilisation of an unprecedented scale. Millions of people flooded the streets at over 1,300 locations with the banner “Hands Off!”.
These peaceful protests happened across all 50 states, U.S. territories, and a dozen locations globally. They were demanding an end to the authoritarian overreach by Donal Trump and Elon Musk.
Turnout of people in the mobilisation was far ahead than the expectations of organisers. It was echoed from the words of Rahna Epting, Executive Director, MoveOn “What we witnessed today was nothing short of extraordinary.
“Across the country and around the world, people came together to say: we will not be silent while our rights, our futures, and our democracy are under attack”.
This mass mobilisation underscored the nationwide opposition to Trump and Musk’s attempts to upset everyday life of people in America, especially working families and middle-class communities.
It is pertinent to note that on April 2, 2025 President Trump proclaimed “Liberation Day” through which a universal 10 percent tariff on all imported goods were effective from April 5, and followed by further tariffs on dozens of named countries, set to begin on April 9.
It is a clear indication that people were not happy with the efforts of the President to Make America Great Again (MAGA) . The mainstay of this peaceful movement was everyday people—nurses, teachers, students, parents— who raised to defend their healthcare, wages, education, civil rights, and democracy.
Hands Off! Toolkit for Hosts gives a detailed picture of the mobilisation
It clearly indicates the reasons for mobilisation on April 5. The headlines are clearly indicative of the State of affairs. They were as follows:
1. We are facing a national crisis.
2.They think everything belongs to them.
3. But the services and jobs they’re slashing aren’t theirs—they’re ours.
4.The lawlessness, cruelty, and corruption has gone too far.
5. We need to build a massive, visible, national rejection of this crisis.
6. The power is in your hands.
The three Demands of the organisers were :
1. We demand an end to the billionaire takeover and rampant corruption of the Trump administration.
2.We demand an end to slashing federal funds for Medicaid, Social Security, and other programs working people rely on.
3. We demand an end to the attacks on immigrants, trans people, and other communities.
The website of the https://handsoff2025.com home page states “Trump and Elon Musk think this country belongs to them.
They’re taking everything they can get their hands on, and daring the world to stop them. On Saturday, April 5th, we’re taking to the streets nationwide to fight back with a clear message: Hands off!”
It also states their commitment to nonviolence “A core principle behind all Hands Off! events is a commitment to nonviolent action. We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values, and to act lawfully at these events.
Weapons of any kind, including those legally permitted, should not be brought to events. “ A report received from senior peace activists from the US in a peace group indicates that protests were peaceful and with no immediate report of any arrest.
Social media all over the world is flooded with videos of massive mobilisation. Reacting to the nonviolent protest, a peace activist from the north eastern part of India said: “In my part of the country, it is sad to see protesters throw stones, burn vehicles and destroy public property.
The meaning of protest needs to be redefined and reinstalled in the minds of the public. He concluded with the words of Robert Frost: “The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep.”
History shows that when people armed with nonviolence come to the street on an unprecedented scale it will definitely produce long term effects. The success of movement lies in keeping the spirit of nonviolence. It was Mahatma Gandhi who said “For I can see that in the midst of death, life persists;
in the midst of untruth, truth persists; in the midst of darkness, light persists.”
About the Author
Dr. Siby K. Joseph is Gandhian Scholar promoting and nonviolence through various academic programmes with participation of people on a global scale.
