An estimated 5,000 people took to the streets on Saturday surrounding the San Luis Obispo County Courthouse rallying against the Trump administration and Elon Musk and demanding they keep their “hands off our courts.”
The event on April 5 was a part of the national “Hands Off!” protest effort, which saw around 1,400 protest events throughout the country and world.
SLO’s downtown streets were packed with people carrying signs that read “Save America’s soul,” and “They’re eating the checks, they’re eating the balances.”
Despite warm temperatures that day, the crowds loudly chanted “Hands off our courts; hands off Medicare; hands off Social Security; our jobs; our wallets; our bodies; fair elections; public lands; clean air; free speech; and immigrants.”
San Luis Obispo County Democratic Party Chair Tom Fulks told New Times this was the second largest protest turnout in SLO’s history, following the 10,000 people that showed for the Women’s March in 2017.
“There were so many people that they just fanned out all over the courthouse. So I would call it a fairly smashing success in terms of demonstrating the people’s unhappiness with the way things are going with our federal government,” Fulks said.
But this event was meant to be more “static” than the Women’s March, he said, by forming a blockade along the sidewalks of the courthouse.
“The intention was to surround the courthouse to demonstrate, ‘hands off our courts.’ Our judiciary is the last standing branch of our government that’s able to put a check on the power of the executive, which, because the legislative branch, controlled by the Republicans, is just letting him do it,” Fulks said. “You know, they’re not checking his power, which is pretty much recognized as being unbridled with all of these executive orders that are just firing out of the White House.”
Recent executive orders include the expansion of the U.S. coal industry, regulating imports with reciprocal tariffs, and “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” which will remove any narratives in federal agencies and museums like the Smithsonian American Art Museum that depict any “scientific racism.”
“The whole symbolism here was to surround our courthouse, where our courts are where judges work, and put a human shield around them,” Fulks said.
At the April 5 protest, a 57-year-old attendee, who stood by her rescue dog that sported a “Good bois 4 social justice” sign, told New Times she was there because she couldn’t stay silent.
“We’re so concerned about really, every aspect of the country’s future. I mean, obviously, health insurance, the environment, deportation, people off the streets without due process,” she said, “and we also knew we would gain strength and the sense of community that we’re not alone in our outrage.”
Another protester said she was there because “everything we once knew now ceases to exist.”
Alvin Schnupp, a retired Cal Poly professor from the theater and dance department, protested with a handmade President Trump face. The sign featured a crown fit for a “king”; black prison bars that Schnupp said Trump has placed minorities behind; and small cartoon men running away, representing the freed insurrectionists.
“I had to go to the protest. Here is a fraud, a shyster, who conned 70 million Americans with the razzle-dazzle of ‘Elect me and day one, I’ll end the war. Prices will drop,’ and he knew it was a lie,” he said. “Yet, too many people bought it. And now he’s the president, and on a revenge tour, as far as I’m concerned, and his cabinet is totally incompetent.”
But Schnupp said the community turnout on April 5 was inspiring.
“It was truly a community event of people supporting each other and trying to get this country back on track,” he said. “It was an amazing turnout, and I was so happy to live in a town that’s active and cares about politics and cares about minorities and all the issues that are at least important to me.” Δ
This article appears in Apr 10-20, 2025.
Curious.
Musk’s efforts appear to investigate and remove waste in our federal government. That seems like a good thing.
After closing the southern border to illegal immigration, Trump seems to be trying to expand American manufacturing.
That seems like a good thing.
RFK seems to be challenging chemicals in our food, and FDA dietary guidelines, in a country in which obesity has become an epidemic. That seems like a good thing.
I’m not trying to be controversial, but why the outrage?
John Goodrich
San Luis Obispo
This powerful and deeply moving piece captures the heart of what makes San Luis Obispo such a vibrant and principled community. The April 5 protest was more than a show of resistance—it was a declaration of values: justice, accountability, and solidarity. Seeing thousands come together to surround the courthouse, not just in protest but in protection of our democratic institutions, is both inspiring and necessary.
Thank you, Libbey Hanson, for giving voice to the energy and urgency behind this moment. The imagery of signs reading “Save America’s Soul” and chants calling for hands off our courts, our rights, and our future is a vivid reminder that democracy is not a spectator sport. It was especially powerful to hear voices like Alvin Schnupp and the woman with her rescue dog—every participant brought heart and conviction.
This rally showed we are not powerless. We are the check when others fail to be. And when a president and his allies push to rewrite history, dismantle protections, and politicize the judiciary, it is our duty to stand up exactly as the people of SLO did. This was a beautiful, defiant act of civic love. Bravo.
clovis dad is right. If the wallet inspector asks to see my wallet to make sure all is in order, isn’t that a good thing?
What is really going on here? Nothing more than hatred toward DJT and anyone who works with him. Why? I’ve asked and interacted with people in this group. The feedback I get is pure emotion! No adult conversation. After 4 years of Biden and his mental condition failing, these folks didn’t care. I believe they saw what others witnessed. But they didn’t care that democracy was tossed aside for POWER! They just line up and follow along. Because of a failing economy, interest rates, highest cost of living in decades, plus the invasion of our borders, America wanted change and the people voted.
@ Rick Russel n clovis dad
This administration just tossed aside the 1st amendment and is lawlessly bucking the supreme Court, and you all claim you are for LAW AND ORDER.
We have always known the constitution and our laws mean nothing to people like you. So long as you feel “your people” have the power and are in charge you could give two cents less about Law or Order.
You have shown yourselves naked before the world
The President of the United States has now defied an order from the Supreme Court. If that’s not enough reason to protest, then I have no idea what is. What’s next? A friend, a relative, an acquaintance is whisked off to a clandestine prison in hell for an unstated charge? It’s a slippery slope, folks. Kafka imagined it first and the Germans experienced it in the 1930’s. It didn’t go well for them because they didn’t rise up in unison to stop it. If you need pitchforks or torches, I have plenty. Being a farmer for 50 years, you tend to accumulate those things.
I expect protests to multiply in the coming days and weeks. Surely, the American people will not let this stand.