Several hundred people gathered along Monroe Street near Apalachee Parkway on Saturday, in the shadow of the state Capitol, to wave signs in protest against President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, the figurehead of Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, effort.
The demonstration was one of dozens across Florida and the rest of the country, under the umbrella of a “Hands Off” theme to “stop Trump and Musk’s illegal, billionaire power grab,” as one press release put it.
Among the signs seen Saturday: “America needs hugs not fascist thugs!” “Where law ends, tyranny begins,” and “Stop billionaire burglars!” Another large banner said, “NO KINGS,” a reference to Trump likening himself to a king in taking credit for killing a congestion pricing program to reduce traffic in New York City.
Still other signs touched on issues of Medicaid, free speech, LGBTQ+ rights and more. They said, “Restore due process,” “Hands off my Money,” “Kick Elon out,” and “Hands Off Social Security.”
First-time protester Kian Alexander said he came to speak out against the growing class divide many say has increased because of Trump’s policies. “Some people are coming for anti-racism issues, some are coming for anti-sexism or abortion issues. It’s just really nice to see everyone coming together,” Alexander said.
As part of a nationwide protest, more than 500 people gathered on and around the Florida Historic Capitol to protest against Elon Musk and Donald Trump Saturday, April 5, 2025.
The local protest was mocked by some on social media, however, with one calling it a “losers convention,” and another calling Tallahassee “a leftist hellscape.” Still others supported the demonstrators, with one person posting, “Love from California to all of you out there.”
Jennie Shepard of Tallahassee explained why she came out: “I believe, as citizens of this country, we all have a responsibility to the rest of our communities … to stand up against what is obviously the rise of fascism and a dictatorship in this country under Donald Trump and Elon Musk.”
Another Tallahassee local, Evie Stewart, said, “ I’m here because I watch every day as our democracy is being eroded by Trump and Musk, and the other people who think they’re running the country, and that needs to stop.”
More than 1,000 other protests were held across the country. Organizers said they wanted to have protests that are not only accessible for people wherever they are in the country, but also highly visible to show that opposition exists in every part of the country.
As Kya Smith said in Tallahassee, “I came here to really support equal rights, abortion, and just saying, Trump and Elon you’re making the world a worse place to live in. And if we all get together as a community, we can make the world a better place. It starts with us.”
Jim Rosica and USA TODAY contributed.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: ‘Hands Off’ Tallahassee: Locals join in on nationwide protest