More and more protests have been popping up as President Donald Trump continues his destructive run over the U.S. Just recently, over five thousand people gathered in the streets of Geneva, Illinois. Organized as part of a sweeping national effort, the “Hands Off!” protest brought together more than 150 groups, including those fighting for civil rights, workers’ rights, and LGBTQ+ equality. All of them came together under one banner to stand against Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, who’s been causing chaos across the country.
The Illinois protest began at the MLK Park and Interpretive Center, where participants gathered from 11 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Some Geneva protesters also made their way up Brady Street Hill, many holding signs filled with sharp criticism of Trump and Musk. Despite the large turnout, the demonstration remained peaceful and orderly, with no reports of arrests so far.
It wasn’t just citizens of Geneva taking to the streets. The Hands Off! movement also reached other cities, including Davenport, Iowa. With the Trump administration pressing on, it’s likely more protests are on the horizon.
Despite declining public approval, the White House has remained unmoved. Officials stated that President Trump has always aimed to “protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid for eligible beneficiaries.” In the same breath, however, they took a jab at Democrats, accusing them of extending benefits to “illegal aliens”—a move they claim will allegedly bankrupt these programs.
Many people aren’t having it, as shown by the massive protests in Illinois and other cities across the country. With the economy taking a hit from Trump’s tariffs, more and more Americans are waking up to the harsh reality the nation is facing. Stock prices have plunged following his actions, leaving citizens stunned and frustrated. At the same time, outrage continues to grow over the mistreatment of minority communities under his administration.
Those who couldn’t attend the protest in person still showed their support online. “This is great for a more rural area. I’m glad what Trump is doing is finally waking people up. Please pay more attention to who you vote for. Neither party is perfect, but what Trump’s doing will hurt average people for decades,” one Redditor commented.
Others shared tips and advice on how to make protests more effective and ensure that politicians hear the people’s voices. “Friendly advice from a European here. Rather than spreading out along the side of the road, you need to gather in one large crowd, ideally in front of a government building. That’s what the French do and it’s always worked for them,” another user suggested.
