Here we go again! This is another OCCUPY!
John
From the Burnside Bridge, thousands of people can be seen gathering along the Willamette River in Portland Saturday, April 5, 2025, to protest President Donald Tump’s policies.Lynda Bishop
Eugene crowds join national day of protest against Trump policies
Haleigh KochanskiDavid DeMille
Eugene Register-Guard
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- A large crowd rallied in Eugene Saturday as part of a nationwide protest against Trump’s policies.
- Organizers said more than 2,000 people signed up online saying they would attend.
- Participants cited threats to democracy, education and civil rights as reasons for joining the protest.
One of the largest coordinated protest efforts of the year gathered in downtown Eugene on Saturday as thousands of local residents joined groups across the U.S. in a national day of action opposing President Donald Trump and his policies.
The “Hands Off” rally was scheduled for noon to 3 p.m. Saturday in front of Eugene City Hall. It’s one of more than 1,000 marches, protests and demonstrations expected to take place nationwide. Organizers say they expected more than 500,000 people to participate across all 50 states in a show of unified resistance.
Crowds in Eugene began gathering well ahead of the event’s scheduled start time, with more than 1,000 people holding up signs, chanting and taking up stations outside of city hall, with more crowds gathering up and down Coburg Road and on the bridge above. Stan Taylor, one of the organizers with Indivisible Eugene-Springfield — a group that first formed during Trump’s first term — said more than 2,000 people had registered online indicating they planned to attend.
“What they’re doing is they’re telling people they’re going to make America great again while they privatize public services and cut taxes for the wealthy,” Taylor said.
Among those attending were Lisa Bowen of Junction City and Kathy Stonebraker of Eugene, who said they felt the democratic values they had grown up with were under threat and that they were staying active for the sake of younger generations.
Photos: See demonstrators around the country rally in ‘Hands Off!’ protests
April 5, 202511:39 PM ET
By
Thousands of protesters marched in Portland, Ore., protesting President Trump’s administration, April 5, 2025, part of “Hands Off” protests taking place around the country.
Joni Auden Land/OPB
Hands Off! demonstrations were held across the country to protest the actions of President Trump and his billionaire advisor Elon Musk.
The Hands Off! movement protested a wide range of activities from the Trump administration, from cuts and layoffs to federal departments, to mass deportations.
National
Nationwide ‘Hands Off!’ protests erupt against Trump and Musk
Hands Off! demonstrations were organized for more than 1,200 locations in all 50 states by more than 150 groups, including civil rights organizations, labor unions, LBGTQ+ advocates, veterans and elections activists, according to the Associated Press.
NPR member station photographers documented what they saw at the rallies.
Take a look.
Connecticut
A crowd of hundreds spilled from the steps of the Connecticut State Capitol Building into Bushnell Park as protestors decried the actions of the Trump administration as part of the national “Hands Off!” day of protest on April 5, 2025.
Ryan Caron King/Connecticut Public
Neal Testerman, 95, came to the “Hands Off!” protest in Hartford with his daughter and granddaughter to protest against the Trump administration’s policies — which he said he thinks will lead to the U.S. losing power on the global stage.
Ryan Caron King/Connecticut Public
Virginia
More than a thousand people took to the streets to protest the Trump administration’s policy on Saturday, April 5, 2025 in Richmond, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman/VPM News
Peter Gregory, protests with his son, Felix, 5, along with others gathered at the Virginia State Capitol to protest the Trump administration’s policy on Saturday, April 5, 2025 in Richmond, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman/VPM News
A person blows a whistle as they join others taking part in a protest of the Trump administration’s policy on Saturday, April 5, 2025 in Richmond, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman/VPM News
Oregon
Thousands of protesters march in Portland, Ore., protesting President Trump’s administration, April 5, 2025, part of “Hands Off!” protests taking place around the country.
Joni Auden Land/OPB
“Hands Off!” protesters gather at the Universal Plaza in Tigard, Ore., on April 5, 2025.
Joni Auden Land/OPB
Texas
Protesters cheer at the Texas Capitol for the “Hands Off!” National Day of Action on Saturday April 5, 2025 in Austin, Texas.
Manoo Sirivelu/KUT
Thousands gather at the Texas Capitol for the “Hands Off!” National Day of Action on Saturday April 5, 2025 in Austin, Texas.
Manoo Sirivelu/KUT
Congressman Greg Casar speaks at the Texas Capitol for the “Hands Off!” National Day of Action on Saturday April 5, 2025 in Austin, Texas.
Manoo Sirivelu/KUT
Georgia
About 500 people from Macon, Ga, came together to protest the policies of President Trump.
Grant Blankenship/GPB News
Hundreds of people gathered in Macon, Ga. for the “Hands Off!” rally.
Grant Blankenship/GPB News
Hundreds of people gathered in Macon, Ga. for the “Hands Off!” rally.
Grant Blankenship/GPB News
California
Pastor Michael McBride leads a chant during a Hands Off! rally in Frank Ogawa Plaza on April 5, 2025.
KQED
Juniper Tinker Ward waves a homemade sign during a protest against Elon Musk and Donald Trump in Oakland on April 5, 2025.
Aryk Copley /KQED
Thousands gather at Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland for a protest against Elon Musk and Donald Trump on April 5, 2025.
Aryk Copley /KQED
Colorado
The peaceful rally included a march through parts of downtown Denver.
Jeremy Sparig/CPR NEws
Rosamond Press 
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