Pro-Palestine activists stage powerful demonstration in Washington amid nationwide anti-Trump protests

WASHINGTON DC, UNITED STATES - APRIL 5, 2025: Hundreds of pro-Palestine activists gathered in Washington, DC, on Saturday, April 5, as part of the nationwide "Hands Off!" protest, aimed at denouncing US President Donald Trump and his senior advisor, Elon Musk.The demonstration featured a poignant and powerful display: thousands of children’s shoes and sandals were laid out in front of the Capitol, each pair symbolizing one of the more than 17,000 Palestinian children killed in Gaza amid ongoing Israeli genocide, which have received significant backing from the United States.Activists chanted slogans and held up signs and banners bearing messages such as "Let Gaza Live," "Stop the Genocide," and "Free Palestine." They also called for the release of Palestinian activist and recent Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil and Tufts University doctoral student Rumeysa Ozturk, both of whom have been detained in the U.S.The protest highlighted the devastating impact of the ongoing violence in Gaza, with demonstrators demanding an immediate halt to US military aid to Israel and justice for Palestinian victims of the ongoing onslaught.Hundreds of thousands of Americans took to the streets across the country on Saturday to protest US President Donald Trump's policies and business magnate Elon Musk, who serves as senior advisor and led the unofficial Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has been instrumental in the significant downsizing of the federal government, using the rallying cry "Hands Off."The demonstrations were organized by the 50501 movement, named for its goal of "50 protests, 50 states, 1 movement." The group called for action through social media: "Donald Trump and Elon Musk think this country belongs to them. They're taking everything they can get their hands on and daring the world to stop them." (Footage by Yasin Ozturk/Anadolu via Getty Images)