Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets in Grand Junction this weekend, voicing anger at President Trump and Elon Musk, joining a coast-to-coast show of resistance.

On April 5, the corner of 7th Street and Grand Avenue outside the Historic Lowell School Building turned into a rally point for furious chants, handmade signs, and a sense of urgency that cut through the cool spring air. Local organizers were clear: this wasn’t just about policy. This was personal.

A national movement lands in Mesa County

The “Hands Off!” protest wasn’t isolated to western Colorado. Far from it.

More than 1,200 protests reportedly took place across the country on the same day, with at least one in every single state. The movement, loosely coordinated through a patchwork of progressive organizations, targeted what they called ongoing “attacks” by the Trump administration and Elon Musk on labor rights, public services, press freedom, and social equity.

In Grand Junction, it hit home.

The Mesa County Democrats, Indivisible Grand Junction, and Mesa County Action Coalition led the charge. They set up early. They came with microphones. They brought banners. And by 11 a.m., the steps outside the Lowell building were crowded.

“This is part of a nationwide movement to demand that this administration keeps its hands off our services, our jobs, our money and all the other reasons we stand here today,” one speaker declared.

Protest signs say it all

The mood? Fired up.

One protester raised a neon sign reading “Hands Off My Healthcare.” Another held up a cardboard cutout of Elon Musk’s face with the word “CENSOR” stamped across the mouth.

Short phrases hit like punches:

• “No to Billionaire Tyranny”

• “Protect Our Democracy”

• “Our Bodies, Our Rights, Our Voices”

Protesters spanned a wide age range. There were retirees who remembered the Cold War, and teens who’ve only ever known politics in the age of social media.

At one point, a toddler in a stroller waved a tiny sign that read, “Hands Off My Future.”

What’s behind the anger?

One paragraph. One sentence. That’s all it takes to say what’s boiling:

People are fed up.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the key issues sparking outrage, based on conversations with attendees:

The protest wasn’t just a partisan rally. There were unaffiliated voters. Disenchanted libertarians. Even a few ex-Republicans who say they no longer recognize their party.

A sense of local urgency, too

Grand Junction might seem like an unlikely spot for progressive energy — but don’t let appearances fool you.

Mesa County has been making headlines for years. From clerk election controversies to heated school board battles, political divides here are sharp. That tension was on display Saturday, even as the protest remained peaceful.

At least one counter-protester circled the block waving a large Trump 2024 flag. A few shouted from passing trucks. But organizers didn’t take the bait.

Instead, they leaned into their message.

“We’re tired of the hate,” one woman said into a bullhorn. “We need someone that can lead our country appropriately.”

Another shouted, “We want a country where billionaires aren’t pulling the strings!”

Local groups show rare unity

Usually, Mesa County’s progressive groups operate in their own corners. Saturday, they came together.

Three organizations — the Mesa County Democrats, Indivisible Grand Junction, and the Mesa County Action Coalition — co-hosted the event. Volunteers from all three wore matching buttons. They worked side by side. No egos, just shared goals.

“We’ve all had our own fights, our own focus areas,” one organizer admitted. “But this moment? We’re in it together.”

They set up voter registration tables. Handed out flyers for upcoming city council meetings. Offered snacks and bottled water. And kept their focus on keeping things safe.

Not a single arrest or injury was reported. Police observed from a distance but did not intervene.

What’s next for “Hands Off!”?

Protests are one thing. Sustained change is another. Some at the rally seemed cautiously hopeful, others wary.

“We can’t just yell once and go home,” one attendee told a reporter. “This has to keep going.”

Organizers said they plan to follow up with:

• Weekly email updates to supporters

• Upcoming teach-ins at the public library

• Encouraging turnout for June primary elections

• A petition push targeting state lawmakers

That momentum will be tested. Grand Junction, like many mid-sized American towns, is politically mixed — and deeply divided.

Still, Saturday’s turnout surprised even the most optimistic among them.

“We weren’t sure anyone would show up,” one organizer laughed. “And then the street filled up.”