Protesters tee off against Trump and Musk in 'Hands Off!' rallies across Chicago area

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Opponents of President Donald Trump, billionaire Elon Musk and the administration's efforts to downsize the government by gutting federal agencies rallied across the Chicago area on Saturday to protest what they called an all out assault on democracy.

More than 1,200 "Hands Off!" demonstrations were planned by more than 150 groups, including civil rights organizations, labor unions, LBGTQ+ advocates, veterans and elections activists across the country.

They protested the administration's efforts to downsize the government, roll back civil and human rights while affecting the economy. Their main message was wrapped in two words: "Hands off."

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Saturday's protest sites include the National Mall in Washington, D.C., state capitols and other locations in all 50 states.

Anger became action as thousand took to the streets and shouted demands at a rally in Chicago's Daley Plaza, joining a nationwide plea. Demonstrations were also being held in suburbs like Berwyn, Gurnee, Palatine and Joliet on Saturday.

Protesters have assailed the Trump administration's moves to fire thousands of federal workers, close Social Security Administration field offices, effectively shutter entire agencies, deport immigrants, scale back protections for transgender people and cut federal funding for health programs.

Musk, a Trump adviser who owns Tesla, SpaceX and the social media platform X, has played a key role in government downsizing as the head of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency. He says he is saving taxpayers billions of dollars.

Organizers said tens of thousands of people marched through the Loop after the Daley Plaza rally.

"There are so many changes happening, and I think it's really important that she see that we're trying to stand up and stop what's going on," said protestor Anika Carlson, who came with her young daughter. "I'm really worried about kids' access to education going forward."

The demonstrations across the Chicago area were aimed at protesting the Trump administration policies which have caused the firing of thousands of federal workers, sparked deportation raids along with funding cuts to education.

"I teach at a school that's, like, 99% Black, that is 100% low income, and my students are directly being threatened by the Trump administration," CPS middle school teacher Kobi Guillory said. "I have students who are immigrants."

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"The dismantlement of our federal government is very troubling," protestor Bruce Irving said.

Many also worry about changes Trump and Republicans want to make to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

"I feel like it's an invasion," protestor Roberta Caruso said. "I feel like all my rights have been stripped away from everything that I've worked for all my life... I feel like I'm just getting ready to retire, and now I have to worry about my social security, somethings I never thought I'd have to worry about in my lifetime."

People who rallied, Saturday, included civil rights organizations, labor unions, LBGTQ+ advocates, veterans and elections activists.

"This administration is using trans people as a cudgel, and let me tell you it is pathetic," said Precious Brady-Davis, Metropolitan Water Reclamation Chicago Commissioner.

Organizers said they hope Saturday's march will be the largest since Trump returned to office. They added it certainly won't be the last.

"We've got to stand up and fight back, because the way this administration is going with Trump and Musk, they're destroying everything we worked for," protestor Marilyn Harper said.

Meanwhile, the president plans to go golfing again Sunday, according to the White House.

Asked about the protests, the White House said in a statement that "President Trump's position is clear: he will always protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid for eligible beneficiaries. Meanwhile, the Democrats' stance is giving Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare benefits to illegal aliens, which will bankrupt these programs and crush American seniors."

Activists have staged nationwide demonstrations against Trump or Musk multiple times since Trump returned to office. But the opposition movement has yet to produce a mass mobilization like the Women's March in 2017, which brought thousands of women to Washington, D.C., after Trump's first inauguration, or the Black Lives Matter demonstrations that erupted in multiple cities after George Floyd's killing in 2020.

In a statement responding to ABC7 for comment on the protests, an anonymous Illinois GOP spokesperson said in part:

"It's less a demonstration and more a traveling tantrum. Let's just hope no Teslas are parked nearby-those seem to trigger this crowd like clockwork."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.