Thousands of people turned out in communities across Northern Minnesota for “Hands Off” rallies that took place nationwide on Saturday, April 5.
Organizers said more than 1,300 locations across the country hosted events, with NPR reporting that Saturday’s protests appeared to be the most widespread since the beginning of Trump’s second term.
In Bemidji, organizers estimated at least 1,200 people lined the street near the Paul Bunyan Plaza with signs criticizing the policies of President Donald Trump, Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency.
Larissa Donovan
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KAXE
Signs carried phrases demanding “Hands Off” public lands, reproductive rights, social security, Medicare, Medicaid and more. Melinda Neville in Bemidji held up a penguin sign in response to Trump’s latest tariffs — some of which are levied against islands that only have penguins as inhabitants.
“I think almost everybody I know has been impacted with the actions of the federal government level here locally,” Neville said. “I think it's important for us to stand up and say something about it. Like, this is affecting us here in Northern Minnesota.”
Whether in response to disruptions to the federal grant process or massive department layoffs, people in Northern Minnesota rallied for at least an hour Saturday, sometimes in multiple communities.
Shel Silvernail and her partner Jim Goltz of Longville joined the Bemidji throng after earlier in the day attending the Grand Rapids rally, which had an estimated 700 people turn out with similar messages for the administration.
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— Protesters line Northwest Fourth Street and Pokegama Avenue in front of Old Central School at the Hands Off rally in Grand Rapids.jpg
Hundreds gather in front of Old Central School at the "Hands Off!" rally in Grand Rapid son April 5, 2025.
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— Will Owens of Cohasset holds a %22OMG GOP WTF%22 sign along Northwest Fourth Street at the Hands Off rally in Grand Rapids.jpg
Will Owens of Cohasset holds a "OMG GOP WTF" sign during the "Hands Off!" rally in Grand Rapids on April 5, 2025.
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— A person in a car waves to protesters on Northwest Fourth Street at the Hands Off rally in Grand Rapids.jpg
A person in a car waves during the "Hands Off!" rally in Grand Rapids on April 5, 2025.
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— Eden Berndt of Deer River and Ashlee Lehner of Grand Rapids hold signs along Northwest Fourth Street at the Hands Off rally in Grand Rapids.jpg
Eden Berndt of Deer River and Ashlee Lehner of Grand Rapids hold signs during the "Hands Off!" rally in Grand Rapids on April 5, 2025.
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— Brad Jones of Bovey holds a %22Unpaid Agitator%22 sign along Northwest Fourth Street at the Hands Off rally in Grand Rapids.jpg
Brad Jones of Bovey holds a "Unpaid Agitator" sign during the "Hands Off!" rally in Grand Rapids on April 5, 2025.
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People hold signs during the "Hands Off!" rally in Grand Rapids on April 5, 2025.
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People line the streets in Grand Rapids during the "Hands Off!" rally on April 5, 2025.
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— A protester in a chicken suit holds a %22Chicken Stauber%22 sign along Northwest Fourth Street at the Hands Off rally in Grand Rapids.jpg
A protester in a chicken suit holds a "Chicken Stauber" sign along Northwest Fourth Street at the "Hands Off!" rally in Grand Rapids on April 5, 2025.
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— Dylan Ellis, Daisy and Dana Butler of Grand Rapids hold signs along Northwest Fourth Street at the Hands Off rally in Grand Rapids.jpg
Dylan Ellis, Daisy and Dana Butler of Grand Rapids hold signs along Northwest Fourth Street at the "Hands Off!" rally in Grand Rapids on April 5, 2025.
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— DFL candidate Denise Slipy of Breezy Point, running to replace Justin Eichorn's state Senate District 6 seat, talks with a protester at the Hands Off rally in Grand Rapids.jpg
DFL candidate Denise Slipy of Breezy Point, running to replace Justin Eichorn's state Senate District 6 seat, shakes hands during the "Hands Off!" rally in Grand Rapids on April 5, 2025.
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— A protester holds a %22Resist%22 sign along Northwest Fourth Street at the Hands Off rally in Grand Rapids.jpg
A protester holds a "Resist" sign along Northwest Fourth Street at the "Hands Off!" rally in Grand Rapids on April 5, 2025.
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— Siama Palkki and Trudy Fagre of Blackberry hold signs along Northwest Fourth Street at the Hands Off rally in Grand Rapids.jpg
Siama Palkki and Trudy Fagre of Blackberry hold signs along Northwest Fourth Street at the "Hands Off!" rally in Grand Rapids on April 5, 2025.
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— A protester in a chicken suit holds a %22The Economy's Falling!%22 sign along Northwest Fourth Street at the Hands Off rally in Grand Rapids.jpg
A protester in a chicken suit holds a "The Economy's Falling!" sign along Northwest Fourth Street at the "Hands Off!" rally in Grand Rapids on April 5, 2025.
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Protesters hold signs along Northwest Fourth Street at the "Hands Off!" rally in Grand Rapids on April 5, 2025.
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Protesters line Northwest Fourth Street at the "Hands Off!" rally in Grand Rapids on April 5, 2025.
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— A protester in a car holds a Hands Off Protected Lands on Northwest Fourth Street at the Hands Off rally in Grand Rapids.jpg
A protester in a car holds a "Hands Off Protected Lands" on Northwest Fourth Street at the "Hands Off!" rally in Grand Rapids on April 5, 2025.
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— Dan Skersick, Marci Skersick and Kylie Sker Bemidji hold signs in front of the Old Central School at the Hands Off rally in Grand Rapids.jpg
Dan Skersick, Marci Skersick and Kylie Sker Bemidji hold signs in front of the Old Central School at the "Hands Off!" rally in Grand Rapids on April 5, 2025.
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People hold signs during the "Hands Off!" rally in Grand Rapids.
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Northern Minnesotans hold signs during the "Hands Off!" rally in Grand Rapids on April 5, 2025.
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— Trudy Fagre of Blackberry holds a sign %22Trump You're Fired for Poor Perfomance%22 along Northwest Fourth Street at the Hands Off rally in Grand Rapids.jpg
Trudy Fagre of Blackberry holds a sign "Trump You're Fired for Poor Perfomance" at the "Hands Off!" rally in Grand Rapids on April 5, 2025.
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— Muriel Harbin holds a sign and waves to cars passing by along Northwest Fourth Street at the Hands Off rally in Grand Rapids.jpg
Muriel Harbin of Grand Rapids holds a "De-Musk America" sign and waves to cars passing by along Northwest Fourth Street at the "Hands Off!" rally in Grand Rapids on April 5, 2025.
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— A protester holds a %22Veterans Deserve Better%22 sign along Northwest Fourth Street at the Hands Off rally in Grand Rapids.jpg
Tony Mayer of Bemidji holds a "Vetrans Deserve Better" sign as Zarhra, the dog, looks on along Northwest Fourth Street at the "Hands Off!" rally in Grand Rapids on April 5, 2025.
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— Robert Saxton of Bemdji holds a Canadian flag along Northwest Fourth Street at the Hands Off rally in Grand Rapids.jpg
Robert Saxton of Bemdji holds a Canadian flag along Northwest Fourth Street at the "Hands Off!" rally in Grand Rapids on April 5, 2025.
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Silvernail, who works in elder care, said there wasn’t one single issue compelling her to advocate for these issues but multitudes.
"I think the whole point is to make it so that nobody can stand up against one particular thing because they're just flooding you with so much garbage," she said. “So it's time to stand up against all of it.”
Ben Munisteri is an organizer with Indivisible Bemidji, a progressive civics group that meets monthly and coordinated Bemidji’s rally.
Lorie Shaull
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KAXE
He said the group, which formed about nine years ago, has seen a surge of interest and membership leading up to the rally that aimed to respond to the seemingly endless cuts to programs since Trump took office.
“[There’s] a lot that's being tampered with right now and we have a lot of members who are very upset and active about getting out in the street and making this known that we want to hold our lawmakers responsible,” Munisteri said in a studio interview on April 4. “Holding Trump and Musk, in particular, accountable for these sorts of cuts that don't benefit anyone except maybe the billionaire class.”
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— Elaine Clark of Red Lake and Aldene Morrison of Cass Lake stand hold signs along Bemidji Avenue N. at the %22Hands Off!%22 rally in Bemidji.jpg
Elaine Clark of Red Lake and Aldene Morrison of Cass Lake hold signs along Bemidji Avenue North at the "Hands Off!" rally in Bemidji on April 5, 2025.
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— A protester holds a sign along Bemidji Avenue N. at the %22Hands Off!%22 rally in Bemidji.jpg
A protester holds a "Now you've pissed off Grandma!" sign along Bemidji Avenue North at the "Hands Off!" rally in Bemidji on April 5, 2025.
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Protesters line Bemidji Avenue North at the "Hands Off!" rally in Bemidji on April 5, 2025.
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— Kay Robyn of Grand Rapids holds a sign along Bemidji Avenue N. at the %22Hands Off!%22 rally in Bemidji.jpg
Kay Robyn of Grand Rapids holds a sign along Bemidji Avenue N. at the "Hands Off!" rally in Bemidji on April 5, 2025.
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— A sign thanking Senator Cory Booker at Paul Bunyan Park at the %22Hands Off!%22 rally in Bemidji.jpg
A sign thanking Sen. Cory Booker at Paul Bunyan Park at the "Hands Off!" rally in Bemidji on April 5, 2025.
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Protesters line Bemidji Avenue North at the "Hands Off!" rally in Bemidji on April 5, 2025.
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Protesters along Bemidji Avenue North at the "Hands Off!" rally in Bemidji on April 5, 2025.
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— A protester stands along Bemidji Avenue N. at the %22Hands Off!%22 rally in Bemidji.jpg
A protester stands along Bemidji Avenue North with a "Honk if you love Canada" sign at the "Hands Off!" rally in Bemidji on April 5, 2025.
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— Cheryl Schaefle of Bemidji with her sign in front of the Paul Bunyan and Babe statues at the %22Hands Off!%22 rally in Bemidji.jpg
Cheryl Schaefle of Bemidji stands in front of the Paul Bunyan and Babe statues with her "Hands Off Free Speech" sign at the "Hands Off!" rally in Bemidji on April 5, 2025.
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— Louis Grams holds a Hands Off PBS sign at the Hand Off! rally in Bemidji.jpg
Louis Grams of Bemidji holds a "Hands Off PBS" sign at the "Hand Off!" rally in Bemidji on April 5, 2025.
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— Protesters stand along Bemidji Avenue N. at the %22Hands Off!%22 rally in Bemidji.jpg
Protesters stand along Bemidji Avenue North at the "Hands Off!" rally in Bemidji on April 5, 2025.
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— A protester holds a "Honk If You Never Drunk Texted War Plans" sign at the "Hand Off!" in Bemidji.jpg
A protester holds a "Honk If You Never Drunk Texted War Plans" sign at the "Hands Off!" rally in Bemidji on April 5, 2025.
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Protesters line Bemidji Avenue North at the "Hands Off!" rally in Bemidji on April 5, 2025.
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— Mitch Mitchell and Amy Hartwell of Bemidji with Resist sign in front of the Paul Bunyan and Babe statues at the %22Hands Off!%22 rally in Bemidji.jpg
Mary Mitchell and Amy Hartwell of Bemidji with a "Resist" sign in front of the Paul Bunyan and Babe statues at the "Hands Off!" rally in Bemidji on April 5, 2025.
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Some of the hundreds lining multiple city blocks the "Hands Off!" rally in Bemidji on April 5, 2025.
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— Celia Grams with her parents, Justine and Aaron Grams, holds a Hands Off sign at the %22Hand Off!%22 rally in Bemidji.jpg
Celia Grams with her parents, Justine and Aaron Grams, holds a "Hands Off" sign at the "Hand Off" rally in Bemidji on April 5, 2025.
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Some of the hundreds of people lining Bemidji Avenue N. at the "Hands Off!" rally in Bemidji on April 5, 2025.
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— Kari Tomperi of Menahga holds a Hands Off Public Lands sign in front of the BEMIDJI sign in Paul Bunyan Park at the %22Hand Off!%22 rally in Bemidji.jpg
Kari Tomperi of Menahga holds a "Hands Off! Public Lands" sign in front of the BEMIDJI sign in Paul Bunyan Park at the "Hands Off!" rally in Bemidji on April 5, 2025.
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— Protesters with a Hands Off Love sign cross Bemidji Avenue N. at the Hands Off rally in Bemidji.jpg
People with a "Hands Off/Love On" sign cross Bemidji Avenue N. at the "Hands Off!" rally in Bemidji on April 5, 2025.
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— A protester with a rainbow-colored Minnesota state flag crosses Bemidji Avenue N. at the Hands Off rally in Bemidji.jpg
A person with a rainbow-colored Minnesota state flag crosses Bemidji Avenue N. at the "Hands Off!" rally in Bemidji on April 5, 2025.
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— Protesters walk by the Paul Bunyan statues and flags at Paul Bunyan Park during the Hands Off rally in Bemidji.jpg
People walk by the Paul Bunyan statues and flags at Paul Bunyan Park during the "Hands Off!" rally in Bemidji on April 5, 2025.
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— Elizabeth Mathews and Earnst Guevara hold signs in Paul Bunyan Park at the Hands Off rally in Bemidji.jpg
Elizabeth Mathews and Earnst Guevara hold signs in front of the Paul Bunyan and Babe statues in Paul Bunyan Park at the "Hands Off!" rally in Bemidji on April 5, 2025.
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— Cate Belleveau of Puposky holds a Protect What You Love sign Paul Bunyan Park at the Hands Off rally in Bemidji.jpg
Cate Belleveau of Puposky holds a "Protect What You Love" sign Paul Bunyan Park at the "Hands Off!" rally in Bemidji on April 5, 2025.
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— Michelle Silvernail of Longville holds a Tax The Rich sign along Bemidji Avenue N. at the %22Hand Off!%22 rally in Bemidji.jpg
Michelle Silvernail of Longville holds a "Tax The Rich" sign along Bemidji Avenue N. at the "Hands Off!" rally in Bemidji on April 5, 2025.
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— Cathy Beck of Bemidji holds a Did You Vote For A Dictator sign Paul Bunyan Park at the Hands Off rally in Bemidji.jpg
Cathy Beck of Bemidji holds a "Did You Vote For A Dictator" sign Paul Bunyan Park at the "Hands Off!" rally in Bemidji on April 5, 2025.
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Community members line Bemidji Avenue N. at the "Hands Off!" rally in Bemidji on April 5, 2025.
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— Michelle Silvernail and Jim Goltz of Longville hold signs as they cross 2nd St NW at the Hands Off! rally in Bemidji.jpg
Michelle Silvernail and Jim Goltz of Longville hold signs as they cross 2nd St NW at the "Hands Off!" rally in Bemidji on April 5, 2025.
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— Protesters line Bemidji Avenue N. at the %22Hands Off!%22 rally in Bemidji.jpg
Community members line Bemidji Avenue N. at the "Hands Off!" rally in Bemidji on April 5, 2025.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
In Detroit Lakes, Alexandria and Willmar, hundreds turned out for “Hands Off” events, with an estimated 1,000 turning out in Brainerd. Even more turned out in Duluth, and an estimated 25,000 rallied at the State Capitol.
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The Rev. Leslie Moughty of the United Church of Christ in Brainerd posted a live video from the Brainerd gathering, which stretched along both sides of Washington Street near the historic water tower. In the video, Moughty — who regularly attends protest actions in the Brainerd lakes area — expressed disbelief at the turnout.
“In the 10 years I’ve lived here, I have never seen this many people turn out for a protest or rally,” Moughty wrote in a message after the event.
