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Over 500,000 peopled RSVP'd for 1200 rallies organized by groups like "Hands Off" and "Move On."
LOS ANGELES - Thousands are expected were gathering throughout the Southern California on Saturday as part of a nationwide "Hands Off!" day of demonstrations in opposition to the Trump administration's steep tariffs, program cuts and mass layoffs of federal workers, which protesters say are threatening essential public services, damaging social safety nets and causing higher prices and plunging financial markets.
In downtown Los Angeles, demonstrators say they will carry a 20-foot balloon of the image of President Donald Trump wearing a diaper and another 15- foot-tall helium-filled balloon representing Trump wearing a Russian military uniform as protesters march along a nearly milelong stretch of sidewalks and streets, beginning with a rally at Pershing Square at 4 p.m. Saturday.
A pro-Trump protestor (R) faces demonstrators during a "Hands Off!" protest against the policies of US President Donald Trump and his advisor, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, in Huntington Beach, California, on April 5, 2025. Thousands of people descended on Washington's National Mall and rallied in other cities across the United States and abroad in opposition to the policies of Donald Trump, in the largest protests since he returned to the presidency. (Photo by Frederic J. Brown / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images) ATLANTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 05: Demonstrators attend nationwide "Hands Off!" protest against US President Donald Trump and his advisor, Tesla CEO Elon Musk at Liberty Plaza on April 05, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Carol Lee Rose/Getty Images for Community Change Action) Demonstrators rally during the nationwide "Hands Off!" protest against US President Donald Trump and his advisor, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, in Houston, Texas, on April 5, 2025. (Photo by RONALDO SCHEMIDT / AFP) (Photo by RONALDO SCHEMIDT/AFP via Getty Images) Demonstrators gather outside the Minnesota State Capitol during the nationwide "Hands Off!" protest against US President Donald Trump and his advisor, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, in St. Paul, Minnesota, on April 5, 2025. (Photo by Tim Evans / AFP) (Photo by TIM EVANS/AFP via Getty Images) Protestors gather during a "Hands Off!" protest against the policies of US President Donald Trump and his advisor, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, in Huntington Beach, California, on April 5, 2025. Thousands of people descended on Washington's National Mall and rallied in other cities across the United States and abroad in opposition to the policies of Donald Trump, in the largest protests since he returned to the presidency. (Photo by Frederic J. Brown / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images) PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 05: Demonstrators march down Market Street during the "Hands Off!" National Day of Action in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Lisa Lake/Getty Images for Community Change Action) WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 05: Protesters attend a "Hands Off" rally to demonstrate against U.S. President Donald Trump near the Washington Monument on the National Mall on April 5, 2025 in Washington, DC. Protests against Trump administration policies and Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are being held nationwide in what organizers are calling a National Day of Action. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) Demonstrators rally during the nationwide "Hands Off!" protest against US President Donald Trump and his advisor, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, in Huntington Beach, California, on April 5, 2025. (Photo by Frederic J. Brown / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images) NEW YORK, USA - APRIL 05: People take part in a massive anti-Trump "hands Off" protest and march in New York City, New York, U.S., April 5, 2025. (Photo by Mostafa Bassim/Anadolu via Getty Images) ATLANTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 05: Demonstrators attend nationwide "Hands Off!" protest against US President Donald Trump and his advisor, Tesla CEO Elon Musk at Liberty Plaza on April 05, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Carol Lee Rose/Getty Images for Community Change Action) COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA - APRIL 5: Demonstrators participate in a Hands Off protest at the statehouse on April 5, 2025 in Columbia, South Carolina. Protests against Trump administration policies and Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are being held nationwide in what organizers are calling a National Day of Action. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images) Protesters hold a large balloon with an image of US President Donald Trump during the nationwide "Hands Off!" protest against Trump and his advisor, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, in downtown Los Angeles on April 5, 2025. Protesters flooded the streets of several major US cities on Saturday to oppose the divisive policies of President Donald Trump, in the largest demonstrations since his return to the White House. Opponents of the Republican president's policies -- from government staffing cuts to trade tariffs and eroding civil liberties -- rallied in Washington, New York, Houston, Los Angeles and Florida, among other locations. (Photo by Etienne Laurent / AFP) (Photo by ETIENNE LAURENT/AFP via Getty Images) Protesters gather during the national "Hands Off!" demonstration day against the policies of US President Donald Trump and his advisor, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, on April 5, 2025. Thousands of people descended on Washington's National Mall and other cities across the United States in opposition to the policies of Donald Trump, in the largest protests since he returned to the presidency. (Photo by ETIENNE LAURENT / AFP) (Photo by ETIENNE LAURENT/AFP via Getty Images) Demonstrators rally during the nationwide "Hands Off!" protest against US President Donald Trump and his advisor, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, in Huntington Beach, California, on April 5, 2025. (Photo by Frederic J. Brown / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images) Los Angeles County Republican Party Chairman Roxanne Hoge said such demonstrations will have no effect on the Trump administration.
"Radical leftists are protesting President Donald Trump with marches and a parade balloon?" she told City News Service. "Their boring, predictable tantrums are now part of the L.A. landscape, much like the dilapidated RVs and dangerous encampments that their policies result in. We are interested in good governance and public safety, and wish our Democrat friends would join us in advocating for both."
Speakers expected at a City Hall early evening rally include actress Jodie Sweetin and comedian Francesa Fiorentini.
"We're barely two months into Trump's chaos and the country is reeling from his reckless firing of millions of workers, the breaking up of tens of thousands of families, and plans to gut funding to our health care and Social Security," says organizer Emily Williams. "It doesn't matter what your political party is, nearly everyone is being harmed by these punishing decisions and we're here to oppose the destruction of these programs that millions of Americans rely on every day."
At least 100 protests and marches are planned throughout the region Saturday, including events in Glendale, Riverside and Santa Ana. Organizations expected to be represented include ACLU, 50501 SoCal, Greenpeace, League of Women Voters, Planned Parenthood Action Fund and Working Families Power, according to the Hands Off! website.
Trump has yet to comment on what organizers are calling a "mass mobilization day," but the White House rescheduled one of its annual spring garden tour dates due to the large anti-Trump demonstration expected to take place near 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Los Angeles police and sheriff's office say they have no special plans to deal with the protests.
Other "Hands Off!" rallies throughout the Southland are set to take place Saturday at:
- Social Security Administration outdoor plaza, 225 W. Broadway, Glendale;
- Culver City Hall, 9770 Culver Blvd., noon;
- Plaza Pasadena, 281 E. Colorado Blvd., noon;
- Hollywood Boulevard and North Vermont Avenue, Los Feliz, 11 a.m.;
- Torrance City Hall, 3031 Torrance Blvd., noon;
- Wardlow and Del Amo Metro Station, 3420 N. Pacific Place, Long Beach; ``Hands Off!' protest train 2 to 3 p.m. to the DTLA march;
- City of Lakewood, 5050 Clark Ave., noon;
- Food 4 Less, 12222 E. Carson St., Hawaiian Gardens, 10 a.m.;
- Downtown Riverside, Market Street and University Avenue, 6:30 to 8 p.m.; and
- Sasscer Park, 600 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana, 1 to 2:30 p.m.