At the April 5 "Hands Off!" protests across all 50 US states in over 1,200 locations, Americans demanded an end to the Trump administration’s harmful executive actions that impact all marginalized communities. In New York City, the protest began at Bryant Park and proceeded along Fifth Avenue to Madison Square Park. Despite the rain, thousands of concerned citizens flooded the city’s streets.

Two communities being impacted the most are Transgender people and immigrants. But American seniors are also being targeted, through rollbacks on Social Security, like withholding all benefits to recover overpayments, and staffing cuts. Furthermore, the full retirement age is gradually increasing from 67 to 69, which will reduce benefits for many future retirees, according to Forbes. These attacks have acted as fuel to fire up older generations, and they were some of the loudest voices in the NYC protest.

“I feel terrible about [Trump’s actions], but we're here to fight it, and we're going to win,” Denise, a 71-year-old New York resident, told the SGN.

Although she doesn’t have any family living in the state, she said she’s using her voice as a means to protect her son in Texas.

“I happen to have a Transgender son and a Nonbinary [child],” Denise said. “They're both frightened. One's in Texas. I would be frightened too.”

Texas has passed several legislative measures restricting Trans rights, including Senate Bill 14, which bans gender-affirming care for minors and was enacted in 2023. This is in addition to the ongoing efforts to limit Transgender people from participating in sports and receiving public accommodations.

In an executive order issued by President Trump, he threatened to withhold over $13 million in federal funding from school districts that allow Trans student athletes to participate on teams consistent with their gender identities. This policy sparked controversy in New York, exemplified by the case of a 14-year-old Trans girl in Long Island who faced opposition for competing on the girls' varsity track team.

Many of the younger voices of the NYC “Hands Off” protest stood in defiance of these laws. The SGN spoke to two LGBTQ+ attendees at the event: They were scared, but they are turning that fear into fiery love to protect the Queer community and the safe haven that the city offered them.

“We need to build bridges: Get involved in your local neighborhood, join community gardens, volunteer,” one of them said. “Support your individual community, because outside of all of these things that are happening, we need to stand together at the core level, because whatever happens on the outside, they'll try to disrupt us.”

“It doesn't matter if Donald Trump says or does something hurtful,” said the other. “If we support each other, you know, if someone is struggling with the rent or with their food, we can be like, ‘Hey, we got you,’ you know?”

A loud voice heard at the protest was John Fenar, a straight, middle-aged, self-described “average American.”

“My buddy and I said to each other, ‘We'll be [safe protesting]… You know, we're upper-middle-class, white, American [men],” Fenar told the SGN.

While safety is a major concern for many protesters, Denise said she hopes her participation encourages others to become politically active, and gives them hope.