CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Crowds lined Eighth Avenue SE on a blustery afternoon as more than 1,000 people participated in one of the “Hands Off” demonstrations held internationally on Saturday, April 5, 2025.
Officially, about 1,300 people had signed up to attend the Cedar Rapids event, organized by the progressive group Indivisible, but with demonstrators stretched from the middle of the Eighth Avenue Bridge, past Fourth Street SE to the railroad tracks, numbers were easily higher.
Protests even swelled internationally, with millions of people taking part in the protests against President Trump and his “DOGE” head Elon Musk, in London, Paris and elsewhere, according to media reports, just days after Trump imposed tariffs that led to a stock market plunge and worldwide economic turmoil.
Drummer Slayton Thompson and singer Avery Cassell inspire the crowd with live music during the Hands Off demonstration in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Demonstrators cited attacks by the Department of Government Efficiency and Trump administration on Americans’ Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, national parks, schools, courts, immigrants, libraries, cancer research, the Veterans Administration and more.
Carrying signs, chanting, and encouraging passing motorists to honk their horns, demonstrators of all ages participated in the chilly, two-hour peaceful protest. Several carried upside-down American flags — a sign of distress or protest — while one pickup truck with a “Trump” flag rolled down the street.
Nationwide, more than 1,400 “Hands Off” protests were held throughout the country, as Americans reacted to what they see as a billionaire takeover of the government and “rampant corruption of the Trump administration” according to Indivisible.
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See more photos from the Cedar Rapids event, below:
Americans love corruption. We might complain when we find out so and so did this, but deep down inside of our hearts we really liked it. So please don’t end it, corruption. Please don’t.
Truth
Thanks for the reporting Cindy.
Looking at the pictures I can yawn.
Nice to see Democracy at work. However the protestors and their issues are 20:80 in the minority per even left leaning pollsters.
This is a FLOP.
Cedar Rapis and it’s suburbs have close to 200,000 people. Participation is around 1% here.
Clearly the majority of Cedar Rapidians have silently said ,” Hands Off” to the Organizers and their Billionaire donors.
Ironically the CR Fireworks and Summer Parades pull more people than what we saw Saturday 04/05.
it’s a total lie about adverse effects on social security. making it less likely to lose money on a scam is bad how?
After four decades in the media, more than half of which was spent in Cedar Rapids, it felt wonderful to be out from under the thumb of corporate control and collaborate with like-minded folks calling for truth, justice and fair play. This event lifted my spirits and reignited my hope that love and compassion will win in the end. Great coverage, Cindy!
MAGA…myself and 77 million others voted for change…you’re outnumbered and don’t buy into the lies.
Our country was headed toward an implosion…thank God common sense people showed up to the polls in November. President Trump and Elon are doing an amazing job.
This article vividly depicts the power of social movements and the unity of citizens. I hope it inspires more people to engage in social change!
[…] photos from a previous protest in Cedar Rapids and more from the “No Kings” demonstration, […]