Hands-Off NJ: 24 cities to rally against government overreach on April 5

Poor People's Campaign rally in Washington D.C. in June 2022. (Photo Credit: Esther Paul for Public Square Amplified)

EDISON, NJ – On April 5th, citizens across the US will participate in rallies and protests as part of the National Hands Off campaign, led by close to 1,000 grassroots and civic organizations. The campaign aims to call attention to what organizers term an“unprecedented government takeover.”

Twenty-four cities in New Jersey will join this National Hands-Off movement, a nonviolent response to the Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) policies, budget cuts, and layoffs. The central Hands-Off website describes the current situation as a national crisis affecting our “democracy, our livelihoods, and our rights.” 

Specifically, they will be protesting to prevent the potential dismantling of social security and Medicare, preferential treatment for the billionaire-class, the rollback of protections for working people, and the assault on several national communities– ranging from veterans to farmers to transgender individuals. 

In New Jersey, the DOGE cuts have created major setbacks for veterans, healthcare, and federal employees. With over 299,000 veterans in the state, 131,000 of whom rely on the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) healthcare, the layoffs at the VA are likely to result in reduced and delayed access to medical care for many NJ veterans. In response, the April 5th protest in Toms River, NJ, calls for a special gathering of veterans to voice their concerns. 

“We hope to make people aware that Ocean County has the highest population of veterans in the state, about 34,000 in Ocean County, and that the cuts to the VA are going to deeply impact a lot of people here. Also, Andy Kim as a Congressman, fought hard for this brand new VA Clinic in Toms River, it just opened in the fall and residents here have felt the benefits and pride of the facility,” said Tara Kownacki, a co-organizer of the Toms River Rally and Chair of the Democratic Coalition of Ocean County. 

“I heard a second hand account of an employee trying to swipe her card to get into the office and it didn't work, she was locked out in front of the patients and other co-workers,” she continued. “That is how she found out she was fired.”

Additionally, the DOGE-driven budget has stripped $350 million in federal health grants from the NJ Department of Health and Human Services, taking funding away from programs for mental health, addiction, and infectious diseases. On top of all of this, the DOGE has canceled leases for 14 NJ federal office buildings, including key FDA and NOAA offices. Amid growing concerns, both in the state and the wider nation, grassroots movements have arisen to protest these changes. 

One of the key groups behind the protest is Indivisible, a grassroots movement that emerged in response to President Trump's election. Their goal has been to mobilize local activists to push back against anti-democracy and anti-working class policies through education, policy, protest, and civics. 

“This massive national effort is a continuation and building of the resistance against the illegal power grab by Trump and Musk and the complacency of the Republicans. We are looking for stiffened resistance by Congressional Democrats to the Trump-Musk-GOP destruction of public services, thoughtful efforts by NJ state officials to minimize the damage that reduced federal aid will have on public services in NJ (such as reduced Medicaid, SNAP Food Stamps, etc.), and thoughtful efforts by Democrats at all levels to define political issues and messages that will lead to a sweeping Democratic victory in the 2025 NJ state elections and the 2026 federal elections,” said  Beryl, an Indivisible Central NJ Steering Committee Member “Collectively, we can demonstrate that we have the power to stop this effort and to present alternatives that will provide hope and support to all.”

In New Jersey, other key organizers include Indivisible Atlantic City: Empathy United & El Pueblo Unido, the Democratic Coalition of Ocean County (DCOC), and SOMA Action. 

Similar to Indivisible, SOMA Action was founded in and around Maplewood, South Orange, after Mr. Trump's 2016 election. On the other hand, El Pueblo Unido is specifically focused on empowering the Latino communities of Atlantic City, Pleasantville, and South Jersey—fighting for economic and social justice for undocumented residents. 

“I hope a large enough crowd comes out nationally to encourage folks to remain steadfast in their protest, rallies, and efforts in calling out the dangers we are facing in not just losing the structures of our government, but [in the]...our overall well being.” said Monica Scott, co-leader of Warren County Action Together NJ, both an Action Together and Indivisible Group. 

“We are hoping that putting the focus on how this will affect our veterans, will motivate more people from across party lines to act to protect this vulnerable population that sacrificed so much from these unnecessary cuts,” added Tara Kownacki.  

Photo Credits: People's Organization for Progress rally on March 12 in Downtown Newark. (Josie Gonsalves for Public Square Amplified.)

If interested in attending an NJ Hands-Off rally, below is a list of all 24 NJ protests, along with their location and times. Registrations and more information on each protest can be found on mobilize.us and Indivisible:

• Trenton – WW2 Memorial, 125 W State St | 12 – 3pm EDT

• Lawrence Township – Central Park, 100 Dave Nevius Way | 12 – 1:30pm EDT

• Pitman – Ballard Park, 15 Pitman Ave | 1:30 – 3:30pm EDT

• Princeton – Hinds Plaza, Sylvia Beach Way | 12 – 1:30pm EDT

• Monroe Township – Perrineville Rd & Prospect Plains Rd | 12 – 1:30pm EDT

• Franklin Township – Franklin Gazebo | 12 – 1:30pm EDT

• Bridgewater – OneNJ7 | 1 – 2:30pm EDT

• Piscataway – Municipal Complex, 455 Hoes Ln | 1 – 2pm EDT

• Cumberland County – Location TBD | 12 – 2pm EDT

• Toms River – DCOC Event, County Offices at 1027 Hooper Ave | 12 – 2pm EDT

• Metuchen – Martin Luther King Jr. Park | 3 – 4pm EDT

• Galloway – Galloway Municipal Court | 12 – 1pm EDT

• Red Bank – Riverside Gardens Park | 1 – 3pm EDT

• Atlantic City – O'Donnell Memorial Park | 2 – 4pm EDT

• Morristown – Town Hall, 200 South St | 11:30am – 1pm EDT

• Ocean City – East 6th St & Asbury Ave | 12 – 2pm EDT

• South Orange-Maplewood – Maplewood Train Ticket Office | 11am – 12pm EDT

• West Caldwell – Crane Park, 730 Bloomfield Ave | 12 – 2pm EDT

• Bloomfield – Municipal Building, One Municipal Plaza | 12 – 2pm EDT

• Glen Ridge – Bloomfield Ave & Ridgewood Ave | 12 – 2pm EDT

• Cape May Court House – Superior Court House, 9 N Main St | 12 – 2pm EDT

• Montclair – Brookdale Park | 12 – 2pm EDT

• Jersey City – 525 Washington Blvd | 9:30am & 11:30am EDT

• Weehawken – Hamilton Park, Hudson Pl Blvd East | 1 – 3pm EDT