Over 100 Protesters in Alamogordo Join Millions Across the US in Protest of Musk and Trump's Polices

El Paso, Las Cruces and 12 New Mexico cities including Alamogordo, joined over 1200 and several in Europe, Australia and Asia to take part in the “Hands Off” protest against the Musk and Trump Administration and a whole host of its policies on Saturday, April 5, 2025.

The  Hands Off! demonstrations were organized for more than 1,200 locations in all 50 states by more than 150 groups, including civil rights organizations, labor unions, LBGTQ+ advocates, veterans and elections activists. The rallies were peaceful, with no immediate reports of arrests.

In Alamogordo over 100 participants joined at 10th and White Sands Blvd. There were a few Trump supporting counter protesters but the protesters overall remained respectful and there was no escalation of violence. 

Activists have staged nationwide demonstrationsagainst Trump and Musk multiple times since Trump returned to office. But before Saturday the opposition movement had yet to produce a mass mobilization like the Women’s March in 2017.

Nearly 600,000 people had signed up to attend the events, some of which took place according to Indivisible, one of the organizations leading the movement in collaboration with a nationwide coalition that includes civil rights organizations, veterans, women’s rights groups, labor unions and LGBTQ+ advocates. Organizers claim over 5 Million people showed up across the nation. 

In San Francisco, my friend Cleve Jones an activist known as one of the pioneers of the LBGTQ movement and conceptual creater of the AIDS Quilt known as the Names Project said of the San Francisco rally...

"It was a beautiful day for a rally. I arrived at 1:20pm (it began at 1:00) and the first thing I noticed was that there were a LOT of people... 

I also noticed that the crowd seemed to skew old and white, though there was considerable diversity nonetheless.

The organizers chose to forego a march and just hold a rally in Civic Center Plaza instead... The stage was placed in the center of the plaza instead of at City Hall steps which added to the acoustical challenges.

The organizers did not include any of the people I know who have been organizing street actions for years (decades) although the speakers list seemed to be very representative of our communities...

The comment I heard repeated the most: "Where are the young people?"

All in all it was a good turn out and the organizers are to be commended. And of course, this is just the beginning!

Next time:
1. Have a march, it's more exciting and people stay longer.
2. If there's to be a program, invest in a proper stage and sound system and people will stay longer
3. Don't rely on social media alone to promote it, blanket the city with posters, pass out flyers at MUNI Metro stops, get shop owners to post in their windows.
4. Build "telephone trees" for mass texting.
5. Get the word out on college and high school campuses."

But the protests engaged people in the large cities and the small towns.  Tiny Las Vegas, New Mexico, 100+ in the snow!

Locally, in Alamogordo, New Mexico  organizers claimed about 50 people signed up online and over 100 actually showed up. Showing up were locals from around the country but also some tourists visiting the area also joined per local organizers. The event was peaceful and the Alamogordo Police Department reported no incidents of destruction and no violence thus a peaceful demonstration.

Some random photos posted on social media from local organizers include...

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