Baton Rouge, LA – Hundreds gathered on the steps of the Louisiana State Capitol on Saturday, April 5, 2025, for a “Hands Off!” rally, a demonstration organized to protest what participants described as the overreach of President Donald Trump and Elon Musk and their detrimental impact on the country’s healthcare, data, jobs, and services. The event, part of a nationwide mobilization, aimed to send a clear message of opposition to the “destruction of our government and our economy for the benefit of Trump and his billionaire allies.”
Organized by groups like Indivisible Baton Rouge, the rally featured a lineup of local activists, Democratic party leaders, and community organizers who delivered impassioned speeches calling for resistance and collective action. “Donald Trump and Elon Musk think this country belongs to them. Baton Rouge is fighting back!” declared the event’s announcement, setting the tone for the day.
Speakers emphasized the urgency of the moment, decrying what they characterized as attacks on marginalized groups and the undermining of democratic institutions. Mel Manuel, director of operations for the Louisiana Abortion Fund and co-director of Queer Northshore, asserted, “The standing president of the United States of America is taking us to a full-on fascist dictatorship. He is attacking the rights of marginalized groups. He is undermining the very institutions that are meant to keep him in check. And he’s normalizing political violence”.
Manuel urged attendees to resist in every possible way, stating, “No act of resistance is too small. So voting matters and calling your legislators matter, but resistance isn’t just about elections. It’s about showing up in every possible way.”
Several speakers directly criticized the policies and actions of Trump and Musk. Dustin Granger, treasurer of the Louisiana Democratic Party, described the country as being run by a “damn psychopath” along with a “dancing dipshit Nazi billionaire” in Elon Musk. He argued that Trump’s tariffs represent the “largest tax increase on working people in history” in Louisiana and that the GOP consistently fails working people.
Granger emphasized the need for unity, stating, “This is not who we are. Over the last decades, trickle down economics run by country club Republicans have robbed us blind.” He framed the current moment as a continuation of historical struggles against greed and bigotry, urging attendees to build a “multi-racial coalition”.
Calls to action were prominent throughout the event. Dadrius Lanus, the new executive director of the Louisiana Democratic Party, urged attendees to “continue to speak out, to continue to fight, to continue to show up, to continue to wave your signs, to continue to make phone calls, to continue to fight for kids, to continue to fight for teachers, to continue to fight for the people of Louisiana.” He stressed the importance of participation in upcoming legislative sessions and elections, declaring the next Senate race as “the first step in sending a message across our entire country.”
Jeremy JF Thompson, the fourth vice chair of the Louisiana Democratic Party, offered seven concrete ways to resist, including focusing efforts, speaking up, normalizing dissent, protecting the vulnerable, defending democratic institutions, honoring anger, and protecting joy. They emphasized that “fascism doesn’t arrive with a bang. It creeps in slowly. It erodes truth. It chips away at our collective power. It thrives on three things: distraction, misinformation, and division.”
Kaitlyn Joshua, sharing her personal experience with restrictive abortion bans, connected the current political climate to historical fights for justice. Reminding attendees of the student sit-ins of 1960 in Baton Rouge, she urged, “Will we watch history happen or will we step into it?” Joshua highlighted concerns over the EPA’s perceived eradication, immigrant policies, restrictions on reproductive rights, and threats to public education, stressing the need to “vote every single one of them out”.
Quentin Anthony Anderson, a former congressional candidate, called for courageous leadership and increased voter turnout. Addressing Democrats, he stated, “Do not sit here rubbing your hands together saying, ‘Oh boy, the Republicans have screwed up!'” and instead, challenged those in attendance to “vote for courageous leaders.” He urged young people to get involved in the fight and implored all citizens to achieve “100% turnout” in future elections, emphasizing that “our first line of defense is you.”
The rally concluded with organizers encouraging attendees to connect with each other and get involved with local activist groups. The “Hands Off!” event in Baton Rouge underscored a growing sense of urgency and a commitment to resist the current political trajectory among attendees, who chanted slogans like “No Trump, no KKK, no fascist USA!” and “They say yes, Trump, we say no, Trump!” The commitment to nonviolent action, as outlined in the event’s principles, was evident throughout the proceedings. The energy at the Capitol steps suggested a burgeoning opposition movement determined to challenge the influence of Trump and Musk and shape a different future for Louisiana and the nation.
