Access to healthcare, LGBTQ+ rights and immigration policies were protested nationwide in the HandsOff! protest on Saturday.

Hundreds of Hands Off! protests occurred across the country on Saturday in all 50 states, according to the Mobilize U.S. website.

Protesters of all ages gathered at Capitol Park on Saturday to show solidarity against the Trump administration and Elon Musk’s recent actions. The protest was a picnic event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

About 3,000 people attended the protest, forcing the Sacramento Police Department to shut down both 10th and N Street temporarily for the event, according to KCRA 3.

Protesters across America all came with similar intentions of grouping together against the Trump administration and Musk.

Sacramento City Council Member Mai Vang was brought out by 50501 Sacramento, a national grassroots decentralized organization; born and raised Sacramento native and daughter of Hmong refugee parents.

Vang said it’s the responsibility of everyday people to fight against Donald Trump and Musk’s recent actions, for workers rights, immigrants rights, keeping medicaid in place and simply fighting to exist.

“When our immigrant brothers and sisters are taken by ICE, what do we all do? Rise up, fight back,” Vang said. “When our families can’t afford healthcare and Medi-Cal and Medicare is on the line, what do we do? Rise up, fight back.”

Under Trump’s administration there have been 32,809 ICE arrests, where 75% of those arrests were of convicted or accused criminals, according to the Homeland Security website.

Trump also plans to make changes in healthcare.

The Affordable Care Act has around 24 million people enrolling into their insurance programs under Joe Biden for 2025, now that Trump is in office he plans to reduce this number without the consent or acknowledgement of ACA users, according to the U.S. News website.

Among the many protesters, there were performers that sang songs as a form of protest, like Bonny Ukes and one of their lyrics being “Shine out for equality! Shine out for equality, I’m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.” Many protesters chanted ‘Hey hey! Ho ho! Elon Musk has got to go!’ while holding handmade signs, including one that read, ‘When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty. So fight.’

Protesters shared their personal reasons that motivated them to attend the event and showed solidarity with other attendees who live in Sacramento.

Andrea Hankins, 62, a clinical researcher said they came to the protest in support of the LGBTQ+ community.

“I am non-binary myself, I am in the LGBTQIA community and I do not like to be erased,” Hankins said. “I do not like anyone to erase me and who I am.”

Protesters working with local organizations like Indivisible and 50501 Sacramento, showed their support by attending.
Hankins said they are concerned about the decline in federal funding that helps patients in healthcare and research conducted by groups, such as the National Cancer Institute.

The NCI funds research for cancer treatments, prevention, diagnosis and causes, according to the National Cancer Institute website.

“I’m concerned for people’s health, I’m concerned for their financial stability and just their civil rights. Period,” Hankins said.

William Copeland, a 61-year-old veteran, said he feels the Trump administration is jeopardizing his financial future. He said he is protesting for the time he spent in the Air Force.

“My veterans’ benefits are being directly attacked. I spent 38 years building up that nest egg, and with one swipe of a pen, it could be gone,” Copeland said.

Daniel O’Donnel, a 17-year-old high school student came to fight against the Trump administration and what they might do to his financial future. He showed up to make sure he has a chance for a stable economy.

“We’re gonna be college students in the fall. The prices are rising, and it’s really scary,” O’Donnel said.

Vang said the fight against Trump’s administration and Musk will not be something one person can take on, rather a battle that a group will face together.

“We are not backing down. Each of us will take on a battle,” Vang said. “We will beat the billionaires.”