On Saturday, April 5, thousands of protests called ‘Hands Off’ occurred across the country, including one in Red Bank.

The protests were to express anger toward President Donald Trump’s recent actions, Elon Musk’s role in DOGE (the Department of Government Efficiency) and the Trump Administration’s new tariffs.

The protests were organized by the 50501 movement, the Indivisible movement, and the Women’s March.  Several politicians supported the protests including N.J. Senator Cory Booker, Senator Bernie Sanders and Congressional representatives such as Alexandria-Ocasio Cortez, Ilham Omar, Eric Swalwell and Jamie Raskin.

In Red Bank, more than 2,000 gathered in Riverside Gardens Park on West Front Street starting at 1 p.m. Many carried signs, reading such things as “Girls Just Wanna Have Funding For Scientific Research,” “When Ignorance Reigns, Life Is Lost,” and “Trump Keep Your Small Hands Off My Benefits.”  At times, it rained but that did not seem to diminish the crowd.

Several groups helped organize the Red Bank protest, including the American Friends Service Committee, Garden State Equality, Climate Revolution Action Network, League of Conservation Voters, and the League of Women Voters.

Local politicians who spoke at the protest included Red Bank Mayor Billy Portman, Deputy Mayor Katie Triggiano, Congressman Frank Pallone and Assemblywoman Luanne Peterpaul.

“My family did not sacrifice for our country to fall to fascism,” Triggiano told the crowd during her speech.

While some protesters listened to the speakers give their speeches, others stood at the front of the park and protested near the street.  Many drivers who passed by the protests beeped their horns in support.   Others expressed opposition. At one point, a man in a pickup truck drove by with a Trump flag.  The crowd rained down some boos against him. Overall, the protest, which ended at 3 p.m., remained peaceful.