photo credit: Michelle Marques
Protestors gather in Courthouse Square on April 5th, 2025 for the "Hands Off" demonstration

"I came down here for the Hands Off protest. My sign says 'Do not obey in advance,' which is from the Timothy Snyder book, essentially the first rule of fighting back against fascism," said Bill, a protestor from Windsor, who was also carrying an American flag.

The rally was organized in response to a number of policies enacted by the Trump administration, including tariffs, cuts to healthcare, and the firing of hundreds of thousands of federal employees by DOGE. Congressman Mike Thompson was one of the politicians who spoke to the crowd.

"The things that are happening out coming out of this administration are hurting us. Everything from the tariffs to the firing of employees in the veterans administration to cutting health care, to taking our data from the IRS to taking our medical records. It's all terrible what these guys are doing and American people know it and they're speaking out," said Congressman Thompson.

Many people brought handmade signs. Protesters expressed a wide range of concerns, from the erosion of democratic institutions to the treatment of transgender individuals. 

"I just think that we're having the wrong conversation around trans people. Um the conversations about bathrooms and bull---- like that. When can't we just talk about like they're human beings and they deserve rights like anybody ---ing, sorry, else. It's a civil rights issue," said Lori who came to the Santa Rosa protest from Marin County.

Santa Rosa Police shut down all of Third Street from B to D Streets as protestors spilled into the roadway near Courthouse Square. Pam from Sebastopol says the rally was a powerful display of unity and resistance.

"It feels so comforting and like we have found each other and we are not alone in this and we're in one of the luckiest parts of the country to have this community around us," Pam said.

People were chanting and singing throughout the protest from 3pm to 5pm on Saturday. Tony from Sonoma says he hopes the rally will serve as a catalyst for further action.

"There's something going on that is wrong. I don't think it's right that we just sit by and watch it happen. So, I want to come and protest. I want to be counted. I want to stand up and be counted among those who are outraged and determined to bring about change," Tony said.

The "Hands Off" rally in Santa Rosa was one of over a thousand similar protests taking place across the country Saturday, demonstrating the growing frustration and anger caused by polices from the Trump administration.