On April 5, an estimated 100,000 New Yorkers took to the streets of Manhattan to protest President Trump’s actions since reclaiming office. The protest was part of a group of resistance movements called “Hands-off,” in which 5.2 million people participated in over 1,200 protests across the nation.
In Manhattan, the protest began in Bryant Park at around 1 p.m. and continued down Fifth Avenue. Demonstrators used the protest to emphasize a variety of issues, from Elon Musk’s involvement in the federal government to transgender rights.
The protests sought to counter the Trump administration’s agenda, including new economic policies, the mass deportation of immigrants and sustained attacks on “woke culture.”
Civil rights organizations such as the 50501 movement, LGBTQ+ advocates, women’s rights groups and labor unions helped to lead these Anti-Trumpprotests, the largest since Trump took office, after previously organizing a day of action on April 19 which drew three million people.
The White House Press Secretary Karoline Levitt quickly responded to the protests on Fox News: “The democrats have officially become the party of crazy.”
The following photo essay highlights the politically charged atmosphere at New York City’s largest mass protest against the Trump Administration since his return to office.
Despite a light drizzle, tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets on the morning of April 5,many carrying Anti-Trump and Anti-Musk signs. Flags and banners announced support for groups whose rights the Trump administration has assailed, from LGBTQ+ to the Black Lives Matter movement, with much attention paid to the transgender community, a chief target of the administration.
According to a poll conducted by The Survey on Instagram, 66 out of the 75 respondents (88%) did not attend the protest.
While some respondents noted that their parents were concerned about the possibility of violence at the protest, others pointed to their disillusionment with the Democratic party which lost significant support from Gen Z voters in the 2024 elections. The 5051 Movement reposted a reel on Instagram calling out the youth for not turning out.
After leaving Bryant Park, the estimated 120,000 people at the protest quickly filled 15 blocks of the city.
A sign of Trump and Russian President Putin, titled “Ownership”, reflecting outrage over Trump’s seemingly cozy bond with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and his at times uncomfortable relationship with Ukrainian President Zelensky.
Many signs criticized Elon Musk’s leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) which prompted boycotts of his company, Tesla Cars, and even the destruction of Tesla cars and dealerships.
One woman shows off a sign reading “Hands off my American Dream” honoring her Mexican-American identity, as Trump and his administration face backlash from citizens and the courts overhis nationwide deportation push.
Since Trump has taken office, border crossings have reached a record low and over 400,000 undocumented immigrants have been deported.
“Ignoring it is what Germans did,” reads a sign, grouping Trump, Musk and Adolf Hitler, a comparison motivated by concerns over what some believe are Trump’s authoritarian actions pushing deportations, spreading alleged propaganda, clashing with the judiciary and attacking major institutions including universities.
A protester named Lea, who lives on the Upper West Side, said, “I think a lot of people are very complacent or they’re trying to find ways to rationalize what’s happening to downplay and not believe that it’s actually a crisis.”
A message left behind on a city bench.
When asked why they participated in the Hands-Off Protest, many protesters said it was “to stand up for democracy” which many feel is under threat by Trump.
Towards the end of the protest, a group of Trump supporters attempted to crash the demonstration. Their signs were conspicuous amidst the sea of protesters, as they waved flags declaring “Trump 2024″ and “Don’t Tread on Me”; the latter a phrase often associated with liberty from the American Revolution.
One counter-protester (shown raising the middle figure in the above photo)stated that her intention at the protest was to confront “all of [the] f*cking idiots who hate Trump, because they need to respect the sitting president.”
Event organizers attempted to mediate clashes between protestors and counter-protestors, despite some protesters still engaged in confrontations. While no arrests were made, screaming and shouting between the two parties occurred for hours, with the counter-protestors often initiating the conflict.
Despite these clashes, protestors reported that the general environment of the march was peaceful and loving.
