Boston is awash with people protesting President Trump and billionaire DOGE director Elon Musk over a wide assortment of policy griefs. It’s just one of such “Hands Off” demonstrations taking place across the country today.

“Hands off Boston! Hands off Massachusetts! Hands off America!” a poster promoting the march and rally that kicked off at 11 a.m. at the Boston Common’s Parkman Bandstand read. “We the People means everyone.”

The event took place at Boston Common and City Hall Plaza.

A Herald photographer estimated that some 20,000 people are attending.

Protesters are assailing the Trump administration’s moves to fire thousands of federal workers, close Social Security Administration field offices, effectively shutter entire agencies, deport immigrants, scale back protections for transgender people and cut federal funding for health programs.

Musk, a Trump adviser who owns Tesla, SpaceX and the social media platform X, has played a key role in government downsizing as the head of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. He says he is saving taxpayers billions of dollars.

A promoter of the event wrote in a press release that the event “aims to peacefully bring together the people of Mass. to march in support of our cities and communities being sanctuaries against tyranny.”

It’s one of more than 1,000 events, according to “Hands Off” promoters, taking place across the country on Saturday “in defiance of the Trump-Musk billionaire takeover and the Republican assault on our freedoms and our communities.”

Speakers at Boston’s event include Sen. Ed Markey, American Federation of Teachers state President Jessica Tang, ACLU state President Carol Rose and founder of Trans Resistance Chastity Bowick. Famous Boston-area punk band Dropkick Murphys was also slated to perform at the event.

The Associated Press contributed to this story. This is a developing story.

A protester parodies President Trump from City Hall plaza Saturday as part of the “Hands Off” Boston demonstration. (Photo by Todd Prussman/Boston Herald)
Protesters attend the “Hands Off” demonstration against President Trump and Elon Musk in Boston Saturday. (Photo by Todd Prussman/Boston Herald)
Protesters attend the “Hands Off” demonstration against President Trump and Elon Musk in Boston Saturday. (Photo by Todd Prussman/Boston Herald)
Protesters attend the “Hands Off” demonstration against President Trump and Elon Musk in Boston Saturday. (Photo by Todd Prussman/Boston Herald)