FRONT RANGE - Colorado joined the rest of the country on Saturday, April 5, 2025, in holding peaceful protests under the banner of “Hands Off!,” an organized national movement against President Donald J. Trump’s and Elon Musk’s perceived “power grab” of American democracy.

“Trump, Musk, and their billionaire cronies are orchestrating an all-out assault on our government, our economy, and our basic rights—enabled by Congress every step of the way,” the official Hands Off! website reads.

“They want to strip America for parts—shuttering Social Security offices, firing essential workers, eliminating consumer protections, and gutting Medicaid—all to bankroll their billionaire tax scam.

“They’re handing over our tax dollars, our public services, and our democracy to the ultra-rich. If we don’t fight now, there won’t be anything left to save.” 

The Hands Off! movement was created by a coalition of nearly 200 progressive and proactive civil rights groups from across the country, including the 50501 and Indivisible movements, as well as the ACLU, Center for Biological Diversity, CLEAR, Federal Unionists Network, Freedom Writers Collaborative, Greenpeace, Move On, Planned Parenthood, Rise and Resist, Third Act, Veterans For Peace, and Women’s March. 

The aim of the movement is to reverse many of the Trump Administration’s executive orders and policies that have gutted crucial federal programs and have created global economic destabilization. The movement is also calling for the removal of both Musk and Trump from power.

“We are facing a national crisis,” The Hands Off! website states. “Our democracy, our livelihoods, and our rights are all on the line. This is not just corruption. This is not just mismanagement. This is a hostile takeover.”

Due to the Trump Administration’s onslaught of executive orders over the 79 days since he took office, the wide scope of national and global concerns were organized under the banner of Hands Off! as a definitive statement against the pilfering of the economy and the flouting of civil liberties that is being committed by billionaires.

Because of this, signs at the over 1400 Hands Off! protests across America showcased a wide range of messages calling for Musk and Trump to keep their hands off of Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, off of veterans services, LGBTQ+ rights, reproductive rights, and the rights of immigrants.

“Trump and his allies are rapidly stripping America for parts and selling us out, but the services and jobs they’re slashing aren’t theirs—they’re ours,” states an informational document for protest organizers, distributed by Hands Off! It provides additional tools and data to direct and drive protestors’ energy.

“This administration is targeting everybody who isn’t part of the 1%—veterans, kids, seniors, farmers, immigrants, transgender people, and political opponents. All to consolidate power and reward their allies.

“Whether you're outraged by skyrocketing healthcare costs, job cuts, attacks on privacy, or the gutting of essential services—this moment is for you. Whether you've been in the fight for years or you're just fed up and ready to take action—this moment is for you.”

While state representatives and labor union leaders spoke at the Hands Off! protest at the Washington Monument in our nation’s capital, Colorado hosted union workers and local activists, such as Luna Baez Vizguerra, at Civic Center Park in Denver.

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, Democratic State Senator Jessie Danielson, and Colorado State Director of GreenLatinos Ean Tafoya also joined the march and spoke to the crowd of more than 8,000.

“I’m tired of seeing this sort of barrier where people think that everyone’s fight is exclusive and we can’t all come together toward the same thing, because we’re all under attack under the same people, under the same administration,” Vizguerra, daughter of immigration rights activist Jeanette Vizguerra, said to Denver protestors.

Vizguerra’s words directly address some of the criticism levied against the movement, as many social and traditional media sources reported comments from those who believe that such organized nonviolent action will not yield the desired results, and that the movement has a lack of cohesion regarding just what was being protested. 

The greatest criticism about Hands Off! comes from Russia, as Kirill Dmitriev, an envoy to Russian President Vladimir Putin, has taken to social media to allege that the protests were organized by the “deep state.”

Musk echoed those sentiments in an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News, during which Musk asked, “who’s funding and who’s coordinating it.” (Trump has posted on his Truth Social that billionaire George Soros paid millions of people to participate in the demonstrations—a ludicrously absurd number.)

Hands Off! protests stretched all across Colorado. While over 8,000 gathered in Denver, over 3,000 took to Civic Center Park in Fort Collins, over 3,000 gathered at the intersection of 6th and Main in Longmont, hundreds rallied outside City Hall in Colorado Springs, and even dozens protested outside Weld County Courthouse in Greeley. 

Protests were held in Arvada, Loveland, and Grand Junction as well. In Boulder, the protest took place at the intersection of Table Mesa Drive and Broadway. And in Nederland, at the Peace Sculpture Garden at the intersection of East 3rd Street and Highway 119, many came out to demonstrate their love for their country and for their community.

Nederland protestors met at 10 a.m., where they proudly waved Pride flags and a tattered American flag, along with signs that read “Dump DOGE,” “Our Public Lands Are Not For Sale,” and “Hands Off My Body,” to the long line of weekend ski traffic driving by.

Nederland’s Hands Off! protest was organized by the Mountain Forum for Peace (MFP), who were already in the process of forming a movement in support of Ukraine when they decided that the Trump Administration’s foreign relations were enough of an affront to American, and humanitarian, ideals to constitute a protest.

The MFP evolved out of political turmoil in 1985, when American and Russian conflicts ramped up the nuclear armament of most of the world. Seven Nederland women, Arlene Strand, Ellen Moore, Barbara Farwell, Liz Caile, Jean Gardener, Phillys Wright, and Lori Sawyer, gathered to form a group of “peaceful warriors” who, through antinuclear demonstrations and small acts of civil disobedience, fought against nuclear expansion.

“Peace begins when we work as a community,” MFP’s official website reads. “Together, we can build and maintain resilient relationships that give us the strength to address our challenging world. This means living consciously, being generous with our time and energy, and authentically engaging with others.”

Members of MFP noted that typically during such demonstrations they are met with contention, angry glares, and disparaging shouts from passersby. But during the Hands Off! protest they were met mostly with smiles and waves, and relentless honking of support. 

Though there were locals who took to Nedheads and other Nederland-based social media pages to comment against the Hands Off! protest, or against the concept of protesting in general, there was also enormous support, as a post about the protest garnered over 600 positive reactions from the community. 

There were also those who expressed appreciation and gratitude to protesters, indicating that there are some in our community who cannot risk displaying public dissent against the government, as they are being specifically targeted by the Trump Administration. 

More nationwide protests are planned for the near future, including one from the 50501 movement to take place on April 19, with individual rallies being organized in Denver, Boulder, and Longmont so far. 

Hands Off! has also begun sharing materials and planning webinars to educate “workers, parents, community members, students, and working families” about organizing their own May Day event on May 1, for what is being called a National Day of Action.

“We deserve places that center the needs of working families, neighborhood public schools, affordable housing and access to high-quality healthcare,” the May Day webinar registration website reads. “Join us to build a vision that works for the many instead of the billionaires and their corporations.”  

The webinar will be held on April 17, on Zoom, at 6 p.m. For those interested in attending, go to: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_BMHnfZAlSG6UkJR0KzvziA#/registration .

The annual Mountain Forum for Peace Yard Sale is coming up the weekend of May 30 to June 1. Community members can drop off their donations to the Nederland Community Center on Sunday, May 25, Tuesday, May 27, and Wednesday, May 28. 

For more information about the Mountain Forum for Peace and the upcoming Yard Sale, go to: https://mfpned.org .