Local organizers are looking to continue the momentum from the massive Hands Off! demonstrations that took place Saturday throughout Los Angeles and nationwide against the Donald Trump administration by planning for more rallies and community events to take place throughout the year.
Hunter Dunn was one of the organizers of the Hands Off! rally in LA, where thousands came out to protest Trump’s steep tariffs, layoffs of federal workers and program cuts. He and other organizers are already planning for another big demonstration in May, though the details of exactly when and where are still being discussed.
Dunn explained that their strategy is the same as other nonviolent protests that have taken place in United States history – to get as many people out onto the streets, chanting and shouting in solidarity, demanding change from the government.
This has two impacts: the first is getting people organized and motivated to make a difference, including unionizing, voting and calling their local representatives. The other is building enough momentum to reach the “3.5% rule” – the notion that no government can withstand a challenge from 3.5% of its population mobilizing against it.
“That’s when real change starts happening,” Dunn said. “All governments, even nondemocracies, … are fundamentally beholden to the will of the people. If you’re getting a large portion of your population in one place demanding something, you have to respond to that. And if you respond in any way but acquiescence, the entire world sees that and that’s how you get even more people out there.”
For the United States, which has a population of approximately 340 million, about 12 million people would be needed to meet the 3.5% rule.
Trump has not commented on the rallies, but White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to news media that, “President Trump will not be deterred from delivering on the promises he made to make our federal government more efficient and more accountable to the hardworking American taxpayers across the country who overwhelmingly reelected him.”
However, Dunn said that these rallies have rattled Trump, pointing to his threats to arrest and deport college students for “illegal protests” as proof he is paying attention and is scared of the power of the people. Since Trump isn’t likely to change course due to still receiving support from his billionaire allies, Dunn said that people will need to vote him and the Republican Party out of office in the next midterm and general elections.
Although it will be some time before the next big rally, Dunn said there are other actions people can take. In terms of larger actions, people can join boycotts of companies, including those against Target and Walmart, both of which rolled back their DEI – diversity, equity and inclusion – programs. Dunn did note, though, that the financial impact of the boycotts is nothing compared to the impact Trump’s tariffs have had.
“We can only do so much damage to an administration that [keeps] shooting itself in the foot over and over and over again,” he said. “But when it comes to other actions, there’s plenty of other things you can do … to improve your community, like volunteering in a soup kitchen or a food bank, participating in a beach or a street cleanup, organizing a union [and] hosting a mixer to get to know people in your community.”
On the subject of community, Dunn and other organizers are planning for a community day event on April 19. They are still taking community feedback on what people want to see from the event, so there are no specifics on what exactly it will look like.
Dunn explained this is because “unlike the current U.S. government, we want to be responsive to the people and we want to make sure that their voices are heard and their needs are met.” Through these events, they hope to create long-lasting bonds and fight against the “alienation and economic insecurity” affecting the country.
“We intend to keep protesting and keep organizing until we have a government that puts people over profits,” Dunn said. “This is not going to go away. This is not the end of something. April 5 is only the beginning.”