A large crowd of protestors lined Division Street in St. Cloud Saturday, bringing with them signs, flags and megaphones.
Many cars honked at the crowd of over 2,300 people, according to the organizer, who took part in the local portion of a nationwide campaign known as “Hands Off!” to protest against President Donald Trump and Department of Government Efficiency leader Elon Musk.
Over 2,000 people participated in a “Hands Off!” protest against President Donald Trump and Elon Musk in St. Cloud April 5.
Jill Kelly, the founder of the new St. Cloud organization Americans for Democracy, helped lead the event. She was motivated to start her own organization and get involved with Saturday’s protest after feeling a need to connect with a community over her concerns.
“We’re out here trying to save our democracy, save our country, save ourselves,” she said. “This is the most important thing in my lifetime… I can’t stand by and not do anything.”
St. Cloud protest: ‘Americans that care’: Minnesotans organize St. Cloud rally to oppose Trump, Elon Musk
Currently, Trump has a 38% approval rating in Minnesota. He lost the North Star State with 47% of the vote, while his opponent, Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, garnered nearly 51%.
St. Cloud’s protest was part of about 1,000 protests planned nationwide for this weekend. It also followed a March 8 protest on Trump and Musk’s cuts to the federal government outside St. Cloud’s Harbor Freight Store on Division Street.
St. Cloud resident Sandra Evans said she decided to participate in Saturday’s protest due to worries about the roles some of the wealthiest people, like Musk, are playing in the government.
“If you want America to prosper, the billionaires and millionaires should be willing to give their money to help this country,” she said. “But when you love money more than you love people, you will never have enough.”
St. Cloud resident Sandra Evans protests with a homemade sign along Division Street in Saint Cloud April 5.
Evans brought two homemade signs with her to the event, as did many other protestors, with posters featuring sayings like “Hands off free speech,” “Democracy not oligarchy” and “Honk if you’ve never drunk texted war plans.”
Tesla vandalism: Fact check: College of St. Benedict, St. John’s University professor didn’t key a Tesla
Rachel Johnson came from Monticello to St. Cloud for Saturday’s event, motivated in part by her worries about how she and her family possibly will be unable to access Social Security.
People who did not participate in the protest or who may not be concerned about the Trump administration should realize “it could be you next,” she said, and that “everybody counts; we’re the only ones that are going to change things.”
Kelly, who said she is also worried about losing her Medicare coverage, also hopes St. Cloud residents will get more involved in community events like Saturday’s protest. She also wants St. Cloud-area Republicans to know that they are welcome to participate in protests and Americans for Democracy meetings.
“I want people to talk to each other, there’s a lot of Republicans out there right now that are hurting, that need to find community,” she said. “I don’t care how you voted, that’s in the past. Right now is right now, and every day it’s changing.”
The Trump administration says ‘it will not cut Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid benefits’
According to the Whitehouse website, “The Trump Administration will not cut Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid benefits.” USA Today reported that this statement was made on March 11. What the site says is the U.S. Government Accountability Office estimates taxpayers lose more than $500 billion annually to fraud, including to Medicare and Medicaid.
U.S. presidents make $400,000 a year.
U.S. Today reported that President Donald Trump donates his salary. Although presidents are required to be compensated, Trump takes $1 each year from his paychecks.
Elon Musk’s Starlink, the satellite internet service, was deployed for free during Hurricane Helene, supplying a lifeline in parts of North Carolina.
Teagan King covers business and development for the St. Cloud Times. She can be reached at teking@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: St. Cloud residents protest Trump, Musk in “Hands Off!” protest