Those who drive past Boeing and the Red Robin at The Landing on any given Saturday are probably used to the crowd of protesters who have convened there since the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022. On April 5, coinciding with thousands of protesters throughout the entire country, that crowd grew and grew to say “Hands Off” to the Trump administration.

There were many different signs at the Renton protest, including ones that said “We Earned It, We Deserve It, Hands Off My Social Security,” “Send Trump To El Salvador,” “Stand Up For Justice & Liberty” and “Not My President.”

“I joined the protest because I believe this administration is disastrous for America. Our current president is a convicted felon and a persistent liar. It’s clear to me he cares only about himself and his rich friends. His cabinet appointments are laughable. They have been selected not for their competence or knowledge, but for their loyalty to the president,” said Ian Taylor of Renton. “Worst of all, the Department of Justice has been co-opted into the president’s power grab. If we lose the independence of the judiciary, we risk losing our democratic system of governance. The stakes are enormous, and we the people need to show up and defend our democracy.”

There were over 1,300 Hands Off demonstrations across the country with the organizers reporting “millions” of participants. The Hands Off organizers list 196 partner organizations, including large and small progressive groups, labor unions, faith groups, veterans and more.

Other local Hands Off protests included more than 700 protesters in Federal Way and over 1,000 people protesting in Covington.

Threats to democracy and Social Security were a major talking point at the April 5 Renton protest. Photo courtesy of Alice Lockridge.

Renton City Councilmember Kim-Khánh Văn (right) holds sign that says “Hands Off Medicaid” at the April 5 protest. Photo courtesy of Alice Lockridge.

One Air Force veteran held a sign referencing abuse towards women and girls. Photo courtesy of Alice Lockridge.

Located at the Landing, between the Red Robin and Boeing, the April 5 Hands Off protest in Renton drew a large crowd. Photo courtesy of Alice Lockridge.

Signs at the April 5 Hands Off protest in Renton referenced threats to social security, democracy and reproductive rights, among many others. Photo courtesy of Alice Lockridge.