Numerous events are scheduled in Oregon, Washington and across the country Saturday to protest what organizers are calling an “illegal, billionaire power grab” by President Donald Trump and Elon Musk.
FILE – Organizer and activist Chelsea Alionar of Keizer protests at the Oregon State Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. The nationwide day of protest on Feb. 5 was organized by the 50501 Movement, a group that is helping to organize the protests on Saturday, April 5, 2025.
Natalie Pate / OPB
Musk is leading the Department of Government Efficiency, which has attempted to make significant cuts to the federal government. Over the last two months, DOGE and the Trump administration have been responsible for more than 280,000 planned layoffs of federal workers and contractors, according to a report released this week by the firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc.
While many of those job cuts and government program reductions have been challenged in court, they’ve drawn notable ire and a growing protest movement from some Americans.
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Organizers of the nationwide “Hands Off” protests Saturday say participants will be calling “on Trump and Elon Musk to take their hands off the programs that the middle class and working families rely on.”
In Oregon alone, dozens of “Hands Off” events are planned, from Gold Beach to Astoria, to Hood River, Enterprise, Redmond and Klamath Falls.
In Portland, where many demonstrations are planned in the metro area, police held a press conference Friday afternoon. They said the protests will likely draw hundreds of people.
“We expect at least several hundred, maybe 1,000 to 2,000,” Portland Police Bureau’s Assistant Chief Craig Dobson told reporters. “As we have assessed it, we’re not concerned about it. We think it’s going to be very peaceful.”
As of Friday, organizers were estimating that 1,000 events would take place in all 50 states and Washington D.C.. National organizers said they hoped they could turn out hundreds of thousands of people.
The rallies are organized, in part, by the 50501 Movement, which held similar nationwide events on Feb. 5 and Feb. 17.
Protests against DOGE and Musk, the CEO of Tesla, have also been taking place at Tesla dealerships across the country.
Many media organizations noted a lack of protests shortly after President Trump was elected, contrasting the lack of civil actions with swift uprisings that took place in late 2016 and early 2017 during Trump’s first term.
Demonstrations that have taken place have not widely been marred by property destruction that was associated with protests in Oregon and elsewhere during that first term.
Protests on Saturday throughout the region are expected to last for much of the day, as events in some Oregon cities will start as early as 9:30 a.m. and others could go into the evening hours.
This story will be updated. OPB reporters will be covering protests in Bend, Pendleton, Portland and Tigard on Saturday.
