Denver shows up for Hands Off!
Story and photos by Juli Yanai
On Saturday, April 5, the Colorado State Capitol was flooded with a sea of color as people gathered to participate in the Hands Off! Protest against the Trump Administration. Organized by Solidarity Warriors, MoveOn, Indivisible Colorado, People’s March Denver, 50501 Movement, Political Revolution, and CommonGround People’s Collective, the march was one of thousands of protests across the U.S. and major European cities.
The Denver rally drew thousands of individuals, with many holding signs condemning the Trump Administration and Elon Musk’s government influence through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
The two-mile march through Downtown Denver was highlighted by several political speakers, including Democratic Sen. Jessie Danielson and Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser.
A second protest demanding a ceasefire in Gaza took place on Lincoln Street. Organized by the Denver Party for Socialism and Liberation (Denver PSL), the protest included University of Colorado Denver students who, from the bed of a red truck, voiced criticism of their school’s administration's handling of students advocating for action against the ongoing strikes in Palestine.
One student, who declined to share their full name, addressed the crowd, stating, “The message they are trying to send is clear: If you resist, you are a threat. And to that, we the students say, ‘good.’”
As students and activists addressed the ongoing genocide in Palestine, the crowd cheered in solidarity, showing their support for the messages being shared, all within the context of the larger protest happening at the same time.
Other signage at the rally also included urgent calls to free Jeanette Vizguerra, a local immigrant reform activist and author who was detained by ICE on March 17. During the rally, Luna Baez, activist, and daughter of Jeanette Vizguerra, shared her mother’s story and expressed gratitude to the people who have continued to support Vizguerra..
Speaking further on her mother’s detainment, Baez stated that Vizguerra was targeted because of her steadfast support of marginalized communities including immigrants, transgender rights, and a ceasefire in Gaza.
“I think we could all come to an agreement that the reason she was targeted was because she chooses to exercise her First Amendment rights. I’m tired of seeing this sort of barrier where people think that everyone’s fight is exclusive, and we can’t all come together toward the same thing, because we’re all under attack under the same people, under the same administration.”
During the speeches, members of the crowd listened intently, some wiping away tears. After the speeches concluded, the crowd made its way toward Lincoln Street to join the protesters from the Denver PSL rally.