Thousands of people demonstrated Saturday afternoon in Center City as part of a nationwide movement against the policies of President Donald Trump and his senior advisor, billionaire Elon Musk.
Protesters marched from City Hall to Independence Hall, and speakers included Democratic U.S. Reps. Brendan Boyle and Madeleine Dean, City Councilmember Rue Landau and American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten.
More than 1,300 other events, under the “Hands Off!” banner, were held in Washington D.C. and all 50 states in what organizers described as the “largest day of collective action since Trump’s inauguration.”
“This peaceful movement is powered by everyday people – nurses, teachers, students, parents – who are rising up to protect what matters most,” said Rahna Epting, executive director of the progressive organization MoveOn, in a statement. “We are united, we are relentless, and we are just getting started.”
White House officials disputed claims from activists that Trump is targeting Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, saying the president will “always protect” the programs for “eligible beneficiaries,” not “illegal aliens,” according to Reuters.
“It goes to show how much these first two months of the Trump Administration have alarmed Americans in the Philly area,” said Matt Harker, of Indivisible Philadelphia. “Today’s goal was to show people who may be feeling scared and angry that they are not alone. There is power in coming together as a community.”
The protest in Philadelphia appeared to go peacefully, with no incidents reported.
