Over 1,000 of people gather in downtown Lancaster as part of the Hands Off! protests that took place across the country on April 5, 2025.
Jaxon White / LNP | LancasterOnline
More than 1,000 anti-Trump protesters gather in downtown Lancaster, Harrisburg joining nationwide ‘Hands Off!’ rallies
By Jaxon White/LNP | LancasterOnline
Jaxon White / LNP | LancasterOnline
Over 1,000 of people gather in downtown Lancaster as part of the Hands Off! protests that took place across the country on April 5, 2025.
Korie Rogan, 31, and Joe Siouffi, 29, of Ephrata Borough had never attended a political protest before Saturday.
But their opposition to President Donald Trump’s handling of U.S. international relations and his recent mass layoffs at the Department of Health and Human Services were among a list of issues they said drove them to join more than 1,000 others in downtown Lancaster Saturday.
The gathering — coordinated with the national “Hands Off!” rallies —was intended to be held in Penn Square, but the large crowd overflowed into the surrounding corners of the bordering intersection and lined nearby sidewalks with signs and other anti-Trump paraphernalia.
Submitted
Hundreds gather at the capitol in Harrisburg as part of the Hands Off! protests that took place across the country on April 5, 2025.
“Even the introverts are out right now,” Rogan said.
Sounds of drums and chants, mixed with the blaring of cars honking as they drove past, muffled many of the selected speakers’ speeches targeting a range of Trump’s policies, including his crackdown on immigration, efforts to eliminate the federal Education Department and slashing of federal government programs.
Responding to an email from an LNP | LancasterOnline reporter, White House spokesperson Liz Huston said, “President Trump’s position is clear: he will always protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid for eligible beneficiaries. Meanwhile, the Democrats’ stance is giving Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare benefits to illegal aliens, which will bankrupt these programs and crush American seniors.”
Those who organized Lancaster city’s event estimated about 2,000 people were there Saturday, while more than 500,000 rallied in cities across the United States. Harrisburg, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and more cities in Pennsylvania saw similar events.
There is a large crowd overflowing from Lancaster’s Penn Square this morning participating in the nationwide Hands Off protests against President Donald Trump and his admin. Organizers say there are more than 2,000 people here.
— Jaxon White (@jaxonwhite.bsky.social) April 5, 2025 at 11:23 AM
‘A visible resistance’
Organizer Michelle Hines, a founding member of Lancaster Stands Up, said Saturday’s protest in Lancaster would likely not have happened without an anonymous resident who, acting solo, registered the city with “Hands Off!” to host a gathering in Penn Square.
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Once the event appeared on the popular rally-scheduling website Mobilize, Hines said, multiple local organizations reached out to — and took over coordinating for — the resident, who did not want to attach their name to the event.
“I’ve been hearing from people that they feel like there’s not enough happening,” Hines said. “It’s so important for us to be visibly out here … to show a visible resistance.”
The slate of speakers, going from 11 a.m. to shortly after noon, included several prominent Lancaster County advocates and Democratic public officials. State Rep. Izzy Smith-Wade-El, D-Lancaster, took to the podium toward the end of the protest.
“It’s incredible to see this number of people here who are devoted to a really simple belief at the bottom of all of this is, that it’s okay to want better, even to want the best for your neighbor,” he said.
Beginnjng of state Rep. Izzy Smith-Wade-El’s speech
— Jaxon White (@jaxonwhite.bsky.social) April 5, 2025 at 12:19 PM
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