South LA Residents Join Thousands in Downtown “Hands Off!” Protest Against Trump Administration

Residents from Inglewood, Compton, and surrounding South Los Angeles communities joined thousands of demonstrators who filled the streets of Downtown Los Angeles on Saturday as part of the nationwide “Hands Off!” protests against the Trump Administration and its policies.

The Los Angeles demonstration, which began at 4 p.m. in Pershing Square, was one of more than 1,200 protests that took place across all 50 states according to event organizers. Additional California protests were held in neighboring cities including Claremont, Huntington Beach, Thousand Oaks, Los Feliz, and Santa Clarita.

“I felt it was important to come from Inglewood and make our community’s voice heard,” said local resident Maria Gonzalez, who attended with family members. “The policies being implemented affect all of us, especially working families in our neighborhoods.”

Protesters carried handmade signs with messages like “Hands off Democracy” and “Dump Trump, Fire Musk” written in bright colors. Many specifically targeted President Donald Trump and his senior advisor Elon Musk, who has been heavily involved in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) founded on January 20, 2025, Trump’s inauguration day.

Musk’s involvement in politics has sparked protests against his companies, particularly Tesla. The #TeslaTakedown organization has been conducting peaceful pickets in front of Tesla showrooms since earlier this year. According to their website, they “oppose violence, vandalism and destruction of property.”

However, some Tesla-related protests have taken a more destructive turn. Last month, a California Tesla dealership had swastikas spray-painted on several vehicles, and a Tesla Collision Center in Las Vegas was damaged when cars were set on fire with Molotov cocktails. The word “RESIST” was also found spray-painted on that building’s door.

The Downtown Los Angeles demonstration brought together a diverse coalition of protesters, with some wearing Palestinian Keffiyeh scarves or holding Ukrainian flags, reflecting concerns about international policies. As the march moved through downtown, protesters’ chants were met with car horns from nearby drivers, both supportive and unsupportive of the movement.

Community organizers from South Los Angeles neighborhoods have been coordinating transportation to these demonstrations through social media and local organizations. Several Inglewood-based community groups helped arrange carpools to Saturday’s event, enabling greater participation from residents who might otherwise find it difficult to attend.

Since President Trump took office in January, his administration has faced consistent criticism over policies related to immigration raids, tariffs, human rights, and cuts to education and healthcare systems, including Medicaid. These issues resonate deeply in communities like Inglewood and Compton, where residents depend on many of these services.

While other anti-Trump protests have occurred since the president returned to the White House, including rallies before his inauguration in January, Saturday’s national movement appears to be the largest demonstration of Trump’s second term thus far.

Local community leaders have announced plans for follow-up meetings to discuss how South LA residents can remain engaged in civic action beyond protests, including voter registration drives and education about policy impacts on the community.