DoomsdaysCW<p>'<a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/HandsOff" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>HandsOff</span></a>' rally in <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/PortsmouthNH" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>PortsmouthNH</span></a>: Thousands slam <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Trump" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Trump</span></a> and his policies<br> <br>by Ian Lenahan<br>Portsmouth Herald<br>Updated 3:19 p.m. ET April 5, 2025</p><p>PORTSMOUTH — "Large crowds of protesters gathered Saturday at "Hands Off" rallies in Seacoast New Hampshire and Maine and across the nation, speaking out against President Donald Trump and his administration's actions.<br> <br>"Large crowds in downtown Portsmouth lined both sides of the length of Congress Street, spilling into side streets, exceeding expectations for city police.<br>Protesters have focused on issues like Trump's tariffs, Trump's actions to end protections for immigrants and transgender people, the dismantling of the Department of Education, cuts to the Veterans Administration, and layoffs of thousands of federal workers. </p><p>"Protesters in Portsmouth called for the Department of Government Efficiency to be dismantled, for the federal government to protect <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/teachers" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>teachers</span></a>, public <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/school" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>school</span></a> staff, <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Abortionrights" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Abortionrights</span></a>, <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/FederalWorkers" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>FederalWorkers</span></a>, <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/WomensRights" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>WomensRights</span></a> and <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/LGBTQ" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>LGBTQ</span></a>+ rights, labeled Trump “<a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/orangeMussolini" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>orangeMussolini</span></a>,” and called for preserving <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Medicaid" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Medicaid</span></a>, <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Medicare" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Medicare</span></a> and <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SocialSecurity" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SocialSecurity</span></a>.</p><p>“Hands off the Constitution,” one sign said. “Democracy is not for sale!”<br>Portsmouth crowd grows to thousands</p><p>Read more, view photos:<br><a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/local/2025/04/05/hands-off-rally-portsmouth-nh-trump-protest/82762300007/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">usatoday.com/story/news/local/</span><span class="invisible">2025/04/05/hands-off-rally-portsmouth-nh-trump-protest/82762300007/</span></a></p><p>Archived version:<br><a href="https://archive.ph/VtjVe" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="">archive.ph/VtjVe</span><span class="invisible"></span></a><br><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/NewHampshireResists" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>NewHampshireResists</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/HandsOff2025" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>HandsOff2025</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/April5th" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>April5th</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/BadDOGE" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>BadDOGE</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ResistFascism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ResistFascism</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/USPol" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>USPol</span></a></p>