Hands Off Protest, takes over the Central Coast in nationwide rally

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV) -- Across the nation, people are hitting the streets to demand that President Trump and Elon Musk leave vital services, including Social Security and healthcare, alone.

This is a nationwide movement that’s being felt locally in communities like Santa Cruz, where protesters are voicing their concerns about the future of essential services.

A large crowd over thousands of people gathered to speak out against the recent proposed cutbacks to essential services that many rely on.

One protester, Denise, said these changes will hurt the most vulnerable populations in both Santa Cruz and Monterey County.

“They’re the homeless, the elderly, the children. All of the services that are being taken away affect them," Denise said.

The message from protesters is clear when it comes to Social Security and other vital services—these cuts cannot stand.

“You know, that’s my money, that’s no one else’s money, that’s my money that I put away, that is not entitlement," Steve said. That’s my money, that’s my insurance policy, you know, get your hands off my Social Security."

The rally was filled with passionate people holding signs, sharing their stories, and demanding change.

For many, this protest is about ensuring that critical services like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and other supports are protected.

“The fight that we need to do is to help our most vulnerable populations, those with disabilities, those on Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, disability, SSI, that’s why I’m here today," Denise said.

Denise also emphasized how important it is to be part of this movement, not just for her, but for future generations as well.

“It’s crucial for me to be out here to show my daughter that she can stand up wherever she is, to show my son that he can stand up wherever he is," Denise said.

In Santa Cruz, more than a thousand protesters gathered outside the courthouse, making their voices heard. Among the crowd was Stephen Zunes, who spoke to the emotional toll these proposed cuts have had on people.

“A lot of people have been despairing. I mean, they’ve been stunned, and numbed out, it seems," Stephen Zunes protester said.

Other protesters echoed the same sentiment, emphasizing the importance of standing together in this moment of adversity.

“We all have to stand together against what has been happening here," Susan Rexrode protester said. "This is not the country that we have been and that we are."

“We can get through whatever this is, whatever has happened, however we got here, we can also connect to get out of this or change what this is," Bea Jae North protester said.

In response to the nationwide protests, the White House issued a statement, “President Trump’s position is clear: He will always protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid for eligible beneficiaries.”