LANSING, Mi. — April 5, 2025 — Today in Lansing, the lawn of Michigan’s Capitol transformed into a sea of handmade signs, booming chants, and collective outrage. Thousands of demonstrators gathered on Saturday as part of a nationwide “Hands Off!” protest against what organizers call a “billionaire power grab” by President Donald Trump and his top adviser, Elon Musk.
The protest was just one of over 50 rallies held across the state—including in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, and Kalamazoo—making it Michigan’s largest coordinated political action of the year. And maybe the biggest anti-Trump turnout in his second term so far.
“This isn’t just about politics,” said former U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow from the Capitol steps. “It’s about defending democracy and standing up for the people who keep this country running.”
She wasn’t alone. Michigan’s Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II and Attorney General Dana Nessel also took the mic, calling out what they described as dangerous federal rollbacks under Musk’s new role in the Trump administration.
Wait—Elon Musk in government? Yep. Earlier this year, Trump appointed Musk as head of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency. Since then, that department has slashed thousands of federal jobs, closed Social Security offices, and gutted funding for housing, education, and health programs. The administration calls it “streamlining.” Protesters call it what it looks like: privatization on steroids.
“Elon Musk doesn’t belong anywhere near our government,” said Tina Rivera, a protester from Flint. “He’s trying to run the country like a startup. Real people are getting hurt.”
Many protesters carried signs that read:
- “Hands Off Our Future”
- “86 47“
- “Resist”
- Impeach Trump
- Deport Musk
From retirees to high school students, union members to immigrant rights activists, the crowd was diverse—and united.
Lt. Gov. Gilchrist pulled no punches: “This isn’t efficiency. It’s erasure. Erasing jobs. Erasing safety nets. Erasing our voices.”
And while much of the focus was on federal cuts, speakers also sounded alarms about new tariffs threatening Michigan’s manufacturing industry, and the chilling effect on public education funding.
Many protesters feel that “Elon Musk is making massive decisions about our lives—and no one elected him.Chanting That’s not democracy. That’s corporate control.”
The protest was organized by the grassroots 50501 Movement, in coalition with over 200 national and local organizations. And according to spokesperson Maya Jordan, this isn’t the end. “People are angry, they’re awake, and they’re ready. Today was just the beginning.”
As the rally wound down, chants of “Hands off our future!” echoed across the Capitol lawn. And from the energy in the crowd, it’s clear: this movement isn’t backing down.
“This isn’t a one-time thing,” Several people told me. “We’re going to keep showing up, because this government is supposed to work for us—not the billionaires.”
Media Works of John Rothwell 