HOUSTON – Over 600,000 people took to the streets in more than 1,200 “Hands Off” protests across the United States on Saturday, with three of those demonstrations held in the Houston area.
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Protesters rallied against President Donald Trump and his administration’s policies, citing concerns about federal government spending cuts, social programs, and increasing corporate influence in politics.
In Houston, more than 5,000 protesters gathered at City Hall, while additional rallies took place in Conroe and The Woodlands.
Demonstrators voiced their opposition to policies from the Trump administration and Elon Musk’s leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
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Protesters decried potential cuts to essential programs like healthcare, social security, and Medicare.
Rallying Against Changes to Federal Policies
Speakers and supporters at the rally included local Democratic leaders such as Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee and City Council Member Abbie Kamin. The protesters carried signs that read “Hands Off Our Healthcare and Courts,” “Democracy Is Not For Sale” and shouted “Stop the Coup.”
Their primary goal was to push back against federal leadership and the sweeping changes they believe threaten vital programs and democratic institutions. Protesters were particularly vocal about what they see as the erosion of checks and balances under the current administration, as well as Trump’s recent tariffs that have sent shockwaves through the stock market.
“We’ve seen our rights to protest trampled, our checks and balances stripped away, and our economy sent crashing,” one protestor stated, citing recent policy decisions that they feel have destabilized the country’s economic and political landscape.
Concerns Over Social Programs and National Economy
For many protesters, the rally was an opportunity to raise awareness about the potential impacts of cuts to social programs such as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and veterans’ benefits.
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Cathy Courtney, a protester from Houston, emphasized the importance of protecting these vital services: “Don’t hurt our Social Security or our Medicare or our Medicaid, or our veterans, the schools.”
The protests came just days after President Trump announced tariffs on countries the U.S. frequently trades with, leading to a 10% drop in the Dow Jones over two days.
Republican Analysts Defend Reforms
While protesters are concerned about these changes, not all viewpoints are aligned.
Republican analyst Vlad Davidiuk, for example, defended President Trump and Elon Musk’s actions, stating no cuts would be made to Social Security and arguing that the changes introduced were intended to bring reform, for the better.
“Reforms and improvements need to be made to not only other aspects of our government, but also to Social Security, Medicare, the border, and every single program,” said Davidiuk. He also emphasized the focus is on improving efficiency in government operations, not dismantling essential services.
Local Issues Add Fuel to the Fire
While the national protests were largely focused on federal policies, local issues also sparked demonstrations in Houston.
One protester, Josue, criticized Mayor John Whitmire for not listening to residents’ concerns about street repairs and public spending.
“He’s refusing to listen to residents who say, don’t waste our money tearing up safe streets. He just tore up Austin Street,” Josue said, pointing to the ongoing recall campaign against the mayor.
What’s Next for the “Hands Off” Movement?
Organizers of the protests are committed to continuing their demonstrations until they see tangible changes in government policies.
A “Hands Off” protest addressing healthcare issues is already planned for May 31st.
While protesters hope to influence policy changes, Republican analysts suggest that once the reforms go into effect, the need for such protests may diminish.
As the country moves forward, only time will tell whether these protests spark lasting political change or if the introduced changes will calm the waters of dissent.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
