'Hands Off!' rally packs Worcester Common Oval to protest Trump, Musk

WORCESTER — A "Hands Off! Worcester Fights Back" rally packed people at Worcester Common Oval Saturday afternoon to protest against the Trump administration and allies such as Elon Musk with a message that sounded loud and clear.

"Hands off!" speaker after speaker at the rally reiterated in remarks that were then responded to by a resounding "Hands off!" by the people gathered. There was even a musical rendition of "Hands off!" The event included an extensive speaker program of elected representatives and local activists, as well as live music.

"Today's message is very clear. Keep your hands off things like Social Security, our health care, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly," said James Miller, a Worcester .journalist and one of the organizers of the protest, in an interview.

As he spoke, vehicles traveling along Front Street by the Common continually honked horns in support of the protesters. There did not appear to be counterdemonstraters, and police presence was low-key.

The rally was one of about 1,000 "Hands Off!" events being held in cities and towns across the country that were expected to bring 500,000 people out to demonstrate.

"We Must Stop Trump And Musk's Illegal, Billionaire Power Grab" was one of the rallying points online ahead of Saturday's protests, with leaders vowing to stand up to push back against the “most brazen power grab in modern history.” The protesters have said they have three main demands: an end to the “billionaire takeover and rampant corruption” of the Trump administration; an end to cuts in federal funding for Social Security, Medicare and other programs that working people rely on; and an end to attacks on immigrants, trans people and other communities.

According to The Hill the nationwide protests were organized by almost 200 partnering groups, including Indivisible, the American Civil Liberties Union, the League of Women Voters, the Planned Parenthood Action Fund and various advocacy groups focusing on issues like climate change and voting rights.

Saturday's demonstrations came after Wall Street had its worst week since 2020 following President Trump's announcement of new tariffs.

Organizers of the Worcester "Hands Off!" rally included Worcester Indivisible — which describes itself as "a progressive group for Worcester County folks who want to be active in saving our democracy and beating back the tide of right-wing authoritarianism" — and Greater Assabet Indivisible of Northborough. More than 50 "Hands Off" protests were planned around Massachusetts.

On a cold, slate-gray early April day with rain in the air just before the rally started, Miller, a member of Greater Assabet Indivisible, said he was pleased with the turnout. "We have well over 1,000 people registered. I think we have over 300 now. I think we'll have over 1,000 over the next three hours."

Miller said that at the first Indivisible rally he attended in January he was one of eight people. "Now it's the fastest-growing social movement on the planet."

Signs that people carried on Worcester Common had messages such as "Woo Says No To Fascism" and "Dump Trusk."

Master of ceremonies Mysti Green said, "Trump and Musk are attempting an illegal power grab." She had people echoing the words "Shame" and then "Hands off!"

"We show up like this in solidarity with people across the country," Green said.

Kathryn Rusk of Greater Assabet Indivisible said the rally was "a moral moment in a time of darkness ... There is power in numbers and courage is contagious."

Sean Rose, former city councilor and chair of the Worcester Democratic City Committee, pledged "we show up, not just in an election year but every damn day ... They have money, but we have something much deeper — people, purpose and each other." District 5 City Councilor Etel Haxhiaj said, "We have an obligation to defend our communities." She had people repeating "I have faith and I have hope."

Singer Mud Rocheleau Demers led people in a singalong of Woody Guthrie's "This Land Is Your Land" and also sang the Pete Seeger protest song "If I Had a Hammer." She also weaved in "Hands off!" Other musical acts on the program included Jubilee, Chris Houston and Robb Millet.

Miller said, "We will hold many more events like this. Not only these kind of events but we'll be having education seminars and regular standouts."

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: 'Hands Off' rally against Trump, Musk packs Worcester Common