Several hundred protestors gathered Saturday in Tuscaloosa in front of the Richard Shelby Federal Courthouse along University Boulevard for a “Hands Off” rally directed at President Donald Trump and Department of Government Efficiency head Elon Musk.
The “Hands Off” protest was part of a nationwide day of protests against the actions taken by Musk under Trump’s direction and against the president’s policies, which protesters say have far overstepped his constitutional authority. Heather Love, a spokeswoman for Indivisible, a left-leaning advocacy group that organized the protest, said the Tuscaloosa event was one of 11,000 registered “Hands Off” protests across the nation.
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“We have representation that is not listening to us here in Alabama. It is especially difficult to get our representatives to hear our concerns and take our concerns seriously,” Love said.
Apr 5, 2025; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Several hundred people participate in the Hands Off protest staged in front of the Richard Shelby Federal Building and Courthouse to express their displeasure with President Donald Trump and DOGE head Elon Musk. Sisters Paul and Pat Bain hold signs as Heather Love speaks through a megaphone.
Love said the group protest had two purposes. The first was to show people who are affected by Trump’s and Musk’s policies that they are not alone. The second was to show the government that the people would not be silenced.
“I think it is going to get bigger. This is just the start,” Love said.
Indivisible registered 185 people for the Tuscaloosa “Hands Off” protest, but far more than 185 were present, lining the sidewalk between 20th Avenue and 21st Avenue, often several people deep. Almost all the protesters held signs and chanted anti-Trump and anti-Musk slogans, in addition to pro-democracy slogans.
One of the protesters was Teresa Kennedy, a retired Social Security employee who worked for agency for 34 years.
Kenndy said, “There is not the fraud and abuse that they are proposing. I’m terrified for my former colleagues. It’s so unfair to go to work and be afraid to open your email, not knowing if you are going to be (laid off), asked to retire, or just forgotten about. It’s shameful. I could not sit at home any longer.”
Apr 5, 2025; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Teresa Kennedy was among the several hundred people participating in the Hands Off protest staged in front of the Richard Shelby Federal Building and Courthouse to express their displeasure with President Donald Trump and DOGE head Elon Musk.
Kennedy said she had been making daily phone calls to both Alabama senators ― Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville ― and her congressional representative without results and decided to do more.
John Dill, a U.S. Navy veteran waved a flag and held a sign, standing right against the curb on University Boulevard. He said he sees incompetence in the government leadership and felt he had to express his displeasure.
“I see our country being dismantled by some guy who doesn’t know what he is doing. He’s always quick to throw the dice when he’s running his own businesses. That’s why he’s got six bankruptcies, at least. He’s trying to make America his seventh (bankruptcy),” Dill said.
“I hope that somehow we can defeat him. If we have a system of checks and balances, somebody’s got to stop this guy. I know he’s going after judges right now that are standing in the way,” Gill said.
The City of Tuscaloosa issued the protesters a permit for noon until 1 p.m. Saturday.
“This is huge, for Alabama, for this many people to show up and be comfortable to be in public and say we are not OK with what’s going on. We are very proud of this and our fellow citizens,” Love said.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: ‘Hands Off’: Hundreds in Tuscaloosa take part in protest of Trump