'Hands off': Protesters rally nationwide to defend democracy, public health, and climate action
In the largest coordinated protests since Trump’s budget cuts began, Americans across all 50 states took to the streets to push back against what they see as a dismantling of democratic institutions and threats to public health and well-being.
Liza Gross and Christine Spolar report for Inside Climate News.
In short:
- Protesters in cities nationwide, led by diverse coalitions that included Indivisible, MoveOn, and Third Act, spoke out against federal cuts to public health programs, environmental protections, and scientific research.
- Many demonstrators shared personal stories of hardship, including job losses tied to canceled Food and Drug Administration audits and retirement savings devastated by Trump-era tariffs and deregulation.
- Climate activists emphasized the need to make polluters pay for the rising costs of disasters, while health professionals warned that cuts to Medicare and Medicaid threaten millions.
Key quote:
“Health care is not just about medical treatment, it’s also about the world we live in and the support systems we all rely on.”
— Cathy Kennedy, president of National Nurses United
Why this matters:
Across the country, from Washington, D.C. to frigid town squares in Montana to sun-baked sidewalks in Phoenix, Americans showed up with signs, songs, and one loud, clear demand: Keep your hands off our country. It was a reminder that while politicians and their billionaire donors may seek to control the message, a country of people who still believe in the power of collective action remain a force to be reckoned with.
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