'Hands Off’ rally in Hastings-on-Hudson protests Trump, Musk policies

Event organizers told News 12 that they predicted around 1,000 people to attend initially but were surprised to see even more people come out to Veterans Memorial Park, despite the on and off rain.

Lauren Del Valle

Apr 5, 2025, 8:38 PM

Updated 17 hr ago

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Hastings-on-Hudson was home to one of many “Hands Off” rallies being held across the nation on Saturday to protest measures, both taken and suggested, by the Trump Administration and Elon Musk.
Event organizers told News 12 that they predicted around 1,000 people to attend initially but were surprised to see even more people come out to Veterans Memorial Park, despite the on and off rain.
"Hands off our lives. Hands off Social Security. Hands off the post office. Hands off. This regime just needs to know the people are not going to stand for it," said Sarah Rutman, of Concerned Families of Westchester.
The initial plan was to march to the local post office – since the president and tech tycoon Elon Musk had suggested privatizing the United State Postal Service.
Due the vast amount of people that came out, the march was unable to happen...but everyone made sure to have their voices heard.
"The Postal Service is not a relic of our past. It’s a vital part of our present," said Samantha Rosado-Ciriello with the Yonkers Federation of Teachers.
The protest also welcomed residents from all over Westchester County such as Linda Butkowski from Yonkers.
"I'm very concerned that we are going to lose our democracy and if the people don't stand up and voice their opinions...I feel like our country is doomed," said Butkowski.
And Shelly, who came from Tarrytown:
"I just want to be on the right side of history and let the government know that the people are really upset about what's going on."