Grassroots organizations are set to rally on Saturday in Pittsburgh — joining the Hands Off! National Day of Action centered on opposition of the Trump administration and its policies.
Hands Off! is a pro-democracy, pro-worker movement against President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, according to the Third Act website.
“This is a nationwide mobilization to stop the most brazen power grab in modern history,” the movement’s website says. “Trump, Musk and their billionaire cronies are orchestrating an all-out assault on our government, our economy and our basic rights — enabled by Congress every step of the way.”
Indivisible Pittsburgh, a progressive group seeking to “rebuild democracy,” will host an event titled “HANDS OFF! Pittsburgh Fights Back” from 12:30-2 p.m. Saturday at the City-County Building on Grant Street.
Approximately 2,500 people are registered for the local event, according to Dana Kellerman, an organizer for Indivisible Pittsburgh. She said many participants do not register, so the numbers could be greater.
“There are just so many attacks on so many parts of the federal government — on our neighbors — it’s hard to even keep track,” she said. “All of this is happening nationally, but it all has effects on each of us in Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas. None of us are going to be immune to these repercussions.”
The peaceful demonstration Downtown joins the national day of mobilization in “defiance of the Trump-Musk billionaire takeover and the Republican assault on our freedoms and our communities.”
The Republican Committee of Allegheny County told TribLive Thursday it was not aware of the event and has no comment.
The Pittsburgh event will begin with a rally and will be followed by a march to Mellon Square with signs, music and chants. Constituents will also be writing letters to their elected officials.
Speakers during the rally will include:
- Former Congressman Conor Lamb
- Dena Stanley, founder and director of Trans YOUniting and co-founder of Pittsburgh Pride.
- Monica Ruiz, executive director at Casa San José
- Alliyson Feldmann, storyteller for Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania and Free & Just
- Miracle Jones, director of policy and advocacy at 1Hood Media
- Marian Jarlenski, professor of public health at the University of Pittsburgh
- Beth Mikus, president of the SWPA Coalition of Labor Union Women
- Alisa Grishman, disability activist and founder of Access Mob Pittsburgh
- Mitch Kates, executive director of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party
Kellerman said the organizing for the event has been going on for about a month.
“Right now, we are seeing such horrific attacks on our neighbors,” she said, including local veterans and those who work at local VA hospitals, as well as researchers and physicians at Pittsburgh’s universities.
Community partners participating alongside Indivisible Pittsburgh include:
- Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers
- League of Women Voters of Greater Pittsburgh
- Casa San José
- Progress PA
- Partners for Progress SWPA
- Mondays with(OUT) McCormick
- Steel City Stonewall Democrats
- 14th Ward Independent Democratic Club
- SWPA Coalition of Labor Union Women
As of March 27, more than 600 Hands Off! events had been planned across all 50 states, ranging from rallies and protests, to teach-ins, digital actions and community gatherings.
There will be a Hands Off! event in Westmoreland County as well — from 12-2 p.m. Saturday at the Westmoreland County Courthouse.
A full list of the national events can be found online.
“The lawlessness, cruelty and corruption have gone too far,” the Pittsburgh event’s release says. “On April 5, we unite to say: Hands Off!”
Kellerman said she hopes Saturday’s event will help locals understand they are not alone and draw political attention.
“We want to provide community for folks who need to know how to act, and we want our representatives to take notice,” she said. “We’re just a microcosm of the nation … all of these things happening at the federal level have local impacts.”