‘Hands Off’ Protest Draws Large Crowd to Connecticut Capitol
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'Hands Off' protest in Hartford, April 5, 2025. Photo credit: Patrick Dugan
A large crowd, including many from West Hartford, gathered on a chilly and rainy day in Hartford for one of the many ‘Hands Off’ protests held across the country on Saturday, April 5.
Protestors at the Capitol building in Hartford, Connecticut, on Saturday, April 5, 2025, for the “Hands Off” Hartford Day of Action. Photo credit: Mia Palazzo, CTNewsJunkie
By Karla Ciaglo, CTNewsJunkie.com. Photos by Patrick Dugan and Mia Palazzo
Protestors braved a steady April rain Saturday afternoon on the north steps of the Connecticut State Capitol, marching, chanting, and carrying signs as part of the national Hands Off Protest.
U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal speaks to the crowd at the Capitol building in Hartford, Connecticut, on Saturday, April 5, 2025, for the “Hands Off” Hartford Day of Action. Photo credit: Mia Palazzo, CTNewsJunkie
The Hartford protest was organized by Indivisible CT, and its founder, West Hartford resident Jim Chapdelaine, served as emcee along with 50501 Connecticut co-founder Paige Harrison Gorman. West Hartford Democrats state Rep. Jillian Gilchrest and Sen. Derek Slap were also among the speakers, joining U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, U.S. Rep. John Larson, Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, Attorney General William Tong, state Comptroller Sean Scanlon, state Treasurer Erick Russell and others at the podium.
Indivisible CT founder Jim Chapdelaine of West Hartford was one of the emcees of the ‘Hands Off’ protest in Hartford, April 5, 2025. Courtesy photo
Estimates of the number attending the rally – which grew in size as it got underway – were in the range of 2,000-3,000 according to Capitol police. Many in the crowd aimed to deliver the Hands Off Protest message of the day through chants, and carried a unified message delivered out loud and written on poster board:
“Hands off our healthcare. Hands off our schools. Hands off our services. Hands off our rights. Hands off our democracy.”
The rally was one of many as part of a nationwide mobilization led by the 50501 movement. Saturday’s demonstrations were organized mainly in opposition to President Donald Trump’s policy agenda and Elon Musk’s DOGE initiative, which protesters described as a sweeping campaign to weaken federal agencies, eliminate core public services, and roll back civil rights.
Click here to read the rest of the article on CTNewsJunkie.com.
‘Hands Off’ protest in Hartford, April 5, 2025. Photo credit: Patrick Dugan
‘Hands Off’ protest in Hartford, April 5, 2025. Photo credit: Patrick Dugan
‘Hands Off’ protest in Hartford, April 5, 2025. Photo credit: Patrick Dugan
‘Hands Off’ protest in Hartford, April 5, 2025. Photo credit: Patrick Dugan
‘Hands Off’ protest in Hartford, April 5, 2025. Photo credit: Patrick Dugan
U.S. Rep. John Larson speaking to the crowd of protestors the Capitol building in Hartford, Connecticut, on Saturday, April 5, 2025, for the “Hands Off” Hartford Day of Action. Photo credit: Mia Palazzo, CTNewsJunkie
Connecticut Treasurer Erick Russell speaks at the Capitol building in Hartford, Connecticut, on Saturday, April 5, 2025, for the “Hands Off” Hartford Day of Action. Photo credit: Mia Palazzo, CTNewsJunkie
Protestors at the Capitol building in Hartford, Connecticut, on Saturday, April 5, 2025, for the “Hands Off” Hartford Day of Action. Photo credit: Mia Palazzo, CTNewsJunkie
Protestors at the Capitol building in Hartford, Connecticut, on Saturday, April 5, 2025, for the “Hands Off” Hartford Day of Action. Photo credit: Mia Palazzo, CTNewsJunkie
Protestors at the Capitol building in Hartford, Connecticut, on Saturday, April 5, 2025, for the “Hands Off” Hartford Day of Action. Photo credit: Mia Palazzo, CTNewsJunkie
Protestors at the Capitol building in Hartford, Connecticut, on Saturday, April 5, 2025, for the “Hands Off” Hartford Day of Action. Photo credit: Mia Palazzo, CTNewsJunkie
Protestors at the Capitol building in Hartford, Connecticut, on Saturday, April 5, 2025, for the “Hands Off” Hartford Day of Action. Photo credit: Mia Palazzo, CTNewsJunkie
Protestors at the Capitol building in Hartford, Connecticut, on Saturday, April 5, 2025, for the “Hands Off” Hartford Day of Action. Photo credit: Mia Palazzo, CTNewsJunkie
Protestors at the Capitol building in Hartford, Connecticut, on Saturday, April 5, 2025, for the “Hands Off” Hartford Day of Action. Photo credit: Mia Palazzo, CTNewsJunkie
Protestors at the Capitol building in Hartford, Connecticut, on Saturday, April 5, 2025, for the “Hands Off” Hartford Day of Action. Photo credit: Mia Palazzo, CTNewsJunkie
Attorney General William Tong speaks at the Capitol building in Hartford, Connecticut, on Saturday, April 5, 2025, for the “Hands Off” Hartford Day of Action. Photo credit: Mia Palazzo, CTNewsJunkie
‘Hands Off’ protest in Hartford, April 5, 2025. Photo credit: Patrick Dugan
‘Hands Off’ protest in Hartford, April 5, 2025. Photo credit: Patrick Dugan
‘Hands Off’ protest in Hartford, April 5, 2025 viewed from inside the Capitol. Photo by state Rep. Matt Lesser. Courtesy photo
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