Hands Off! Protest in Modesto

By Anthony Castillo
Editor/Founder

Hundreds of local residents gathered at Five Points in Modesto to join a national Hands Off! day of action led by hundreds of grassroot activists. People across the country, and around the world, are angry at Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s chaotic assault on the federal workforce, social benefit programs, and individual rights. Today they said “Hands off our jobs, hands off our data, hands off our families, hands off our rights!”

Jim and Joni from Modesto were motivated by their son who recently graduated with a degree in microbiology. Trump and RFK Jr. have suspended grants and research, leaving much of the scientific community in uncertainty. Such cuts are not just a pause in work. Scientific research takes years to perform. An interruption of funds could completely kill a research project, which would have to be, most inefficiently, restarted from the beginning. 

Over 120,000 people were fired from federal employment so far. This includes everyone from cancer researchers to aid workers to park rangers. Many of these people were fired under the false pretense that their job performance was poor, even though many had excellent reviews. The cuts’ legality is being challenged in court by employee unions. For being businessmen, Trump and Elon have shown no regard for the government’s contractual obligations. Trump has a well known history of not paying contractors. Musk, the world’s richest man, said unions create “lords and peasants.” 

A protester named Manuel attended the Hands Off protest because of what he saw as socially unjust actions by Trump. “Trump is a convicted felon and should be in jail.” He, like many others, voiced concern about Social Security. The retiree said “I paid into the system for 50 years and they are going to cut it.”

Elon Musk’s DOGE is closing Social Security field offices and moving to cut telephone services. The Social Security Administration was already understaffed and cuts will make it harder for rural beneficiaries to access their rightful benefits. Cutting telephone services for seniors is particularly cruel. Not every retiree has the internet and those that do might not have the technological proficiency to navigate government financial websites. 

Trump’s vindictive assault on constitutional rights has left heads spinning. His administration kicked out the Associated Press from the White House Press Corp for refusing to give into political pressure to call the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America.” The mainstream media’s response thus far to Trump’s frivolous lawsuits has been to fold. Both Paramount and Disney settled cases that most legal opinions think could have been won. Instead Trump is being paid millions for abusing the power of the Oval Office. 

Another protester named Shawn was concerned about human rights. He held a sign that read “Stop Selling Bombs to Israel.” Shawn is on disability and is angry that Trump is firing the employees that administer the program. “They want people like me to die.” Shawn is calling for Trump’s impeachment. 

Federal officers disappeared multiple students for having voiced opposition to Israeli war crimes committed against Gaza. Mahmoud Khalil was abducted away from his pregnant wife in New York and jailed in Louisiana, yet he has still found the courage to write about injustice from his cell. PHD student Rumeysa Ozturk was arrested by plain clothes agents for calling for equal dignity and humanity in a college newspaper.

Another protester we spoke to was Laura. She is mad about DEI exclusions and the targeting of immigrants. She works at a Modesto district school with many children of farmworkers. She noted that “we see a lot more absences now.”

Citizen videos of ICE snatching people in the streets are now a common part of social media. Accompanying these bone-chilling displays of oppression are stories of people who were following the process to gain legal residency. Due process has been cast aside to fulfill Trump’s racist demand for mass deportation of Latinos. ICE is using a points system to judge if a Latino is a gang member. Points for tattoos, friends, and an arbitrary total that results not in deportation to one’s country of origin, but to a Salvadorian gulag known for human rights abuses. Fear and cruelty is the intention.

There was standing room only on sidewalks around Lucas Plaza, which was filled with chanting, drums, and cheers. The crowd received countless honks in support from cars, trucks, and even Tesla owners who no doubt regretted supporting a Nazi saluting oligarch. Midway through the event, the crowd marched to Modesto City Hall to gather at a rally. Featured were local activists and politicians who voiced their fear and anger.

We asked several protesters  “who inspires you?” Many people answered Corey Booker. The senator from New Jersey recently delivered a 25 hour and 5 minute speech. This was significant as Booker, a black man, broke the previous record held by Strom Thurmond who made a 24 hour and 18 minute racist tirade against the Civil Rights Act in 1957. Other inspirational names mentioned were Kamala Harris, Bernie Sanders, and John Lewis.

It was an inspirational event for all in attendance best summed up by one protester named Joel, “people need to be a lot more vocal and stand up.”

Anthony Castillo is the editor in chief of The Valley Groundswell. Anthony is a Turlock native and alumni of CSU Stanislaus.

Photography and interview assistance provided by Hayden M. Pratt.