In a massive display of global dissent, more than 1,200 rallies have taken place worldwide to protest against what organizers call an "illegal, billionaire power grab" by President Donald Trump and Elon Musk. The "Hands Off" protests, organized by over 150 civil rights groups, labor unions, and LGBTQ+ advocates, have drawn scores of people to locations across the United States and globally.

The protests come on the heels of last weekend's "Tesla Takedown" rallies, which targeted Tesla showrooms across the country to express disapproval of Musk's efforts to carry out mass federal workforce layoffs and hollow out government agencies. As Tesla's sales have plummeted this quarter, Musk has threatened to "go after" the company's critics, while the FBI has created a task force to investigate individual acts of vandalism and other actions aimed at the company.

The scope of the "Hands Off" protests is much broader, targeting both Trump and Musk for their alleged role in "shuttering Social Security offices, firing essential workers, eliminating consumer protections, and gutting Medicaid." Protesters have gathered in cities across the United States, including New York City, Washington, DC, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Boston, and Chicago, with thousands attending each rally. Aerial footage from St. Paul, Minnesota, showed a massive crowd gathered at the State Capitol building.

The protests have also gone global, with demonstrations taking place in cities like Berlin, Germany, and London, England. It's not just major cities, either – hundreds have shown up to protest in smaller towns like St. Augustine, Florida, and Riverhead, New York. Cars honked in apparent support of a protest in Manhattan, Kansas, and a similar scene played out in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

The protests have been largely peaceful, with attendees listening quietly to speakers and occasionally chanting in response. The sheer scale of the protests is a testament to the widespread discontent with the policies and actions of Trump and Musk. As the protests continue to gain momentum, it remains to be seen what impact they will have on the policies and decisions of these two influential figures.

The "Hands Off" website has become a hub for protesters to organize and share information, with a growing list of participating organizations and a map of protest locations. The website accuses Trump and Musk of "waging war on the working class, the poor, and the most vulnerable members of our society." As the protests continue to grow, it's clear that this is a movement that will not be silenced anytime soon.

For more information and updates on the protests, follow our live coverage and check out our gallery of images from the protests.