On Saturday, April 5, people will be attending “Hands Off” protests in Washington D.C. and in the 50 states. Many states have protests scheduled in several cities.

On January 20, 2025, President Trump took this oath:

I do solemnly swear or affirm that I will faithfully execute the office of president of the          United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.

After a mere seventy-three days, it’s reasonable to say that the Trump administration may have violated or is in the process of violating 15 parts of the U.S. Constitution. Many of these issues are already the subject of pending lawsuits. Here is the list.

1.      not respecting the separation of powers and system of check and balances

2.      not respecting the limits placed on the Executive branch

3.      First Amendment - freedom of speech

4.      First Amendment - freedom of the press

5.      First Amendment - freedom of assembly

6.      First Amendment - right to make grievances against the government

7.      Fourth Amendment - freedom from unreasonable search & seizure (includes seizure of a person)

8.      Fifth Amendment - right to not be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law

9.      Sixth Amendment - right to be informed of nature and cause of accusation

10.   Sixth Amendment - right to be confronted with witnesses against the accused  

11.   Sixth Amendment - right to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses  

12.   Sixth Amendment - right to an attorney

13.   Eighth Amendment - bars cruel and unusual punishment

14.   Fourteenth Amendment 

"all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof” are citizens, referred to as birthright citizens

Trump signed an Executive Order declaring that children born in the U.S. are citizens only if they have one parent with U.S. citizenship or a green card. At the same time, the president announced that wealthy people will be able to purchase a path to citizenship for 5 million dollars.

15.   Twenty-second Amendment (1951)

“no person shall be elected to the office of president more than twice”

Trump stated there are ways for him to continue as president after his term expires

Saturday is about showing up! We won’t have a national election for two years but you’ll be casting a crucial vote by showing up! Bring a sign or don’t bring a sign! Stay an hour or stay 4 hours! Take photos and post them! What matters is that you show up!

If you can’t attend a rally for any reason – work, illness, grief, previous plans, money, transportation – please take one of these actions on April 5:

1.       write or call your Senator or Representative with one or two sentences about an issue that concerns you or about the anxiety, depression, or exhaustion you are feeling because of the Trump administration  

2.       send $5 to an organization that is working to preserve our democracy, such as the ACLU,  American Oversight, Lambda Legal, League of Women Voters, National Urban League, PEN America

Democracy Demands Action! Let’s go!