On April 5, thousands gathered on the Ithaca Commons to march against President Donald Trump and Elon Musk. The march was organized by Indivisible Tompkins as part of the national “Hands Off!” protests held on the same day.
“Hands Off!” states that millions of people participated in the protests that took place in over 1,400 locations across all 50 states. The organizers of “Hands Off!” describe themselves as a pro-worker and pro-democracy movement.
The organizers of “Hands Off!” have three demands. These demands are: “an end to the billionaire takeover and rampant corruption of the Trump administration; an end to slashing federal funds for Medicaid, Social Security, and other programs working people rely on; [and] an end to the attacks on immigrants, trans people, and other communities.”
The rally began at the Bernie Milton Pavilion on The Commons where protesters gathered to listen to a series of speakers. A press release sent by Erin Hart from Indivisible Tompkins, said over 3,000 people showed up to the rally.
Chants of “Hands off,” “USA” and “This is what democracy looks like,” erupted from the crowd.
Risa Lieberwitz, professor of Labor and Employment Law in the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations, said the Trump administration’s agenda is to dismantle democratic institutions. She said the Trump administration is specifically targeting higher education to suppress freedom of expression.
“At the heart of being a college or university is academic freedom, freedom of inquiry, freedom to question the status quo, freedom to dissent against an authoritarian government as we have now,” Lieberwitz said.
Protesters marched through The Commons to the Ithaca Social Security Administration office. The Department of Government Efficiency lists 47 Social Security Administration field offices as set for closure. DOGE states that due to social security hearings now becoming increasingly virtual, many offices will not see renewals on their leases. Additionally, the SSA has been planning a mass layoff ranging from around one sixth to half of its entire workforce.
Protesters packed the sidewalks of West State Street and headed toward St. James African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church to hear from Reverend Terrance King. He said voters must demand that elected officials who run on the platform of the people live up to their word.
“No more lip service, no more performative justice, no more black squares on social media while real Black lives are on the line,” King said.
Community member Jen Weiss came out to the protest dressed in a painted cardboard Trump mask. Weiss made the mask in a moment of self therapy when she felt overwhelmed by national politics.
“To make the mask was just an action of having my mind get off my worries for … an hour or two,” Weiss said.
Weiss said she worries that she will not be able to take care of her 90-year-old mother and autistic son because of potential cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
“I’m terrified that all our rights and all my ability to live and work hard and have any kind of quality of life is going to be taken away,” Weiss said. “It’s just severely terrifying and upsetting.”
Ithaca College junior Marshall Long said it was very inspiring to see the community action that had taken place. He said it is important for people to organize locally and show their community that they care. He also said it is important for students to leave their campus bubble to engage with their community.
“It shows that we’re not … gonna kneel down and take the hits the Trump administration is aiming at us,” Long said. “We’re gonna get together and fight back and organize … and we’re gonna continue to support each other and find love and community within each other.”
Long said the current administration’s targeting of higher education is similar to the early steps of past authoritarian and fascist regimes.
“As college students, we are being taught to question everything,” Long said. “We are being taught that it’s OK to question the things around us and to challenge the status quo.”
Sophomore Joslyn Forcione said college students have historically been on the front lines when it comes to activism and that this movement is no different. She said she wished more of her fellow students had made it out.
“So many other students, especially in red and southern states, are at risk,” Forcione said. “When people are targeted … we need to come together. Show up, show out and do what you can.”
