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Hundreds protesting in Bloomington tell Trump and Musk 'Hands off!'

By Sara Wittmeyer

Posted April 5, 2025

Demonstrators at the Monroe County Courthouse protesting President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk. (George Hale)

Hundreds of demonstrators filled the Monroe County Courthouse lawn Saturday in protest of President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk.

Demonstrators held signs reading “Hands Off Democracy! Cuffs on Trump!” and "DOGE is cruel, corrupt and criminal!”

protests1

Motorists honked their horns and yelled in support of the protestors.

At-large Bloomington City Council member Isak Asare led the crowd in a chant.

“This is a government of the people. This government is not a toy,” Asare said. “This nation is not a business, and we are not for sale! For anyone, to anyone who would try to divide us, say it with me: ‘Hands off! Hands off! Hands off! Hands off!”

Protesters assailed the Trump administration's moves to fire thousands of federal workers, close Social Security Administration field offices, effectively shutter entire agencies, deport immigrants, scale back protections for transgender people and cut federal funding for health programs.

More than 1,200 “Hands Off!” demonstrations were planned Saturday by more than 150 groups. They include civil rights organizations, labor unions, LBGTQ+ advocates, veterans and elections activists.

Asked about the protests, the White House said in a statement that “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.”

Senator Shelli Yoder (D-Bloomington), who represents large portions of Bloomington and Monroe County in the state legislature, urged demonstrators to speak up at the statehouse as well.

“Reach out to your circle of influences. Let them know that their voices, their emails, their calls, make a difference. We cannot go silently. Democracy is a full-on sport! Full court press. If they want to take away our rights, we need to let them know that we will not go silently. So hands off our health care, hands off our public school education, and hands off our democracy,” Yoder said.

There are about three weeks remaining in the 2025 legislative session. Lawmakers are still working on a plan to reduce property taxes, and set a new two-year state budget. Some other remaining issues include funding for traditional K-12 public schools; increased spending on private and charter schools; Medicaid cuts; economic development spending; and the fate of a public health initiative.

The legislative session must end by April 29. Lawmakers are hoping to finish by April 25 to avoid coming back after a weekend.

The Associated Press and the Indiana Capital Chronicle contributed to this story.