(APRIL 10, 2025) On April 5, 2025, thousands of people across Oregon joined a national protest called “Hands Off.” The protests happened in cities like Portland, Tigard, Bend, Madras, and Pendleton. People are angry about government cuts. They are angry about actions by President Trump and Elon Musk.
The protests were against cuts to important programs like Social Security, health care, and education. Protesters said these changes hurt working families, older adults, and people with low incomes. Some also worry about new tariffs (taxes on goods from other countries). They worry about deportations.
In Portland, a large crowd marched through downtown and across bridges. Many people carried signs and shouted slogans. They said they are tired of billionaires making decisions that hurt regular Americans.
In Tigard and Bend, families came together to protest. Some people said they wanted to show their children the importance of standing up for their rights.
Even in places where Trump is popular, some residents said they were afraid of losing important government support. In Madras, for example, about 200 people came, including teachers and veterans. In Pendleton, the crowd was similar in size. People talked about how federal job cuts hurt the local economy.
The national “Hands Off” protests were organized by the 50501 Movement. It believes Musk and Trump are trying to take power away from the people and give it to billionaires. Musk now leads a government office that is making big cuts to federal programs. These actions have caused fear and anger among many Americans. While the White House said it will protect programs like Medicare and Social Security, protesters said they don’t believe those promises.