Photos: Protesters pack Hinds Plaza in Princeton to protest Trump and Musk’s actions

A few thousand people turned out in the rain in downtown Princeton on Saturday to join in the national “Hands Off” day of protest against the actions of President Donald Trump and DOGE head Elon Musk.

The Princeton protest was one of about 40 events held across the state on Saturday afternoon, April 5. Several hundred people also protested in Trenton. Protests were also held in Hopewell, Lawrence, and other Princeton area communities.

Local organizers for the Princeton event included Indivisible Princeton and Indivisible Cranbury. Co-sponsors included the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice, the Coalition for Peace Action, the Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice, and Food and Water Watch NJ. 

Speakers included Amol Sinha, executive director of the ACLU-NJ, Sen. Andrew Zwicker (NJ-16), the Rev. Robert Moore of the Coalition for Peace Action, Laura Zurfluh of Indivisible Cranbury, Amy Torres, executive director of New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice, and several others.

Participants called on Trump and Elon Musk to take their hands off the programs that the middle class and working families rely on such as Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, and veteran’s healthcare.

“I’m here on behalf of the Constitution of the United States ,” Sinha said, uplifting people’s rights to free speech.

“Time and again throughout history, states like New Jersey have been on the frontlines of freedom to protect and advance civil rights and liberties, and this moment calls for the same,” Sinha said. “Since the beginning of the previous Trump administration, New Jersey has shown that it is possible to achieve meaningful change in the face of national challenges.”

“When the federal government under Trump and Musk fails to support our healthcare and protect our rights, states like NJ must step in. The message we’ve heard today is simple; protect our healthcare, support our schools, and fight for our freedoms,” Sen. Andrew Zwicker said. Together, we’re telling Trump and Musk to keep their hands off our state.”

Moore led the crowd in a litany of chants against all the programs and departments Trump and Musk are cutting, shouting “hands off” after describing each cut.

“Cuts at the National Weather Sercice mean the ability to forecast climate emergencies like hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods are being degraded,” Moore said. “Hands off!”

Moore said Trump has been “profoundly unconstitutional and lawless in his presidency” since he came to office and immediately pardoned the January 6 violent insurrectionists.

“It got even worse when, in an unprecedented move, Elon Musk was illegally installed to lead DOGE, with no Congressional confirmation or legal basis. US AID and the Department of Education are being completely eliminated,” Moore said. “Essential government services such as MEDICAID, public health, and veterans affairs, are being drastically reduced. Funds that Congress has allocated for them are being unconstitutionally withheld. Trump’s imposition of draconian tariffs have triggered shocking reductions in America’s economy, and likely a global recession.”

Moore said Trump’s tariffs are his latest horrible idea and one of the worst. “It’s based on him declaring an economic emergency that doesn’t exist. He wants to make it exist and he’s doing it wit his draconian tariffs. It’s triggering shocking reductions in America’s economy, and likely a global recession.”