'Hands Off!' protests against Trump policies, tariffs across Southern California

LOS ANGELES - Thousands are expected were gathering throughout the Southern California on Saturday as part of a nationwide "Hands Off!" day of demonstrations in opposition to the Trump administration's steep tariffs, program cuts and mass layoffs of federal workers, which protesters say are threatening essential public services, damaging social safety nets and causing higher prices and plunging financial markets.

In downtown Los Angeles, demonstrators say they will carry a 20-foot balloon of the image of President Donald Trump wearing a diaper and another 15- foot-tall helium-filled balloon representing Trump wearing a Russian military uniform as protesters march along a nearly milelong stretch of sidewalks and streets, beginning with a rally at Pershing Square at 4 p.m. Saturday.

Los Angeles County Republican Party Chairman Roxanne Hoge said such demonstrations will have no effect on the Trump administration.

"Radical leftists are protesting President Donald Trump with marches and a parade balloon?" she told City News Service. "Their boring, predictable tantrums are now part of the L.A. landscape, much like the dilapidated RVs and dangerous encampments that their policies result in. We are interested in good governance and public safety, and wish our Democrat friends would join us in advocating for both."

Speakers expected at a City Hall early evening rally include actress Jodie Sweetin and comedian Francesa Fiorentini.

"We're barely two months into Trump's chaos and the country is reeling from his reckless firing of millions of workers, the breaking up of tens of thousands of families, and plans to gut funding to our health care and Social Security," says organizer Emily Williams. "It doesn't matter what your political party is, nearly everyone is being harmed by these punishing decisions and we're here to oppose the destruction of these programs that millions of Americans rely on every day."

At least 100 protests and marches are planned throughout the region Saturday, including events in Glendale, Riverside and Santa Ana. Organizations expected to be represented include ACLU, 50501 SoCal, Greenpeace, League of Women Voters, Planned Parenthood Action Fund and Working Families Power, according to the Hands Off! website.

Trump has yet to comment on what organizers are calling a "mass mobilization day," but the White House rescheduled one of its annual spring garden tour dates due to the large anti-Trump demonstration expected to take place near 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

Los Angeles police and sheriff's office say they have no special plans to deal with the protests.

Other "Hands Off!" rallies throughout the Southland are set to take place Saturday at:

• Social Security Administration outdoor plaza, 225 W. Broadway, Glendale;
• Culver City Hall, 9770 Culver Blvd., noon;
• Plaza Pasadena, 281 E. Colorado Blvd., noon;
• Hollywood Boulevard and North Vermont Avenue, Los Feliz, 11 a.m.;
• Torrance City Hall, 3031 Torrance Blvd., noon;
• Wardlow and Del Amo Metro Station, 3420 N. Pacific Place, Long Beach; ``Hands Off!' protest train 2 to 3 p.m. to the DTLA march;
• City of Lakewood, 5050 Clark Ave., noon;
• Food 4 Less, 12222 E. Carson St., Hawaiian Gardens, 10 a.m.;
• Downtown Riverside, Market Street and University Avenue, 6:30 to 8 p.m.; and
• Sasscer Park, 600 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana, 1 to 2:30 p.m.