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VPM News

Gallery: Hands Off! Richmond protest

VPM | By Shaban Athuman
Published April 8, 2025 at 4:01 PM EDT
A closeup of a person blowing a blue whistle. The person's chin and lips are visible.
1 of 33  — A woman blows a blue whistle
A person blows a whistle as they join others taking part in a protest of the Trump administration’s policy on Saturday, April 5, 2025 in Richmond, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
People are seen marching in the background. In the foreground, there are blooming flowers.
2 of 33  — People march in the street protersting
People arrive at the Virginia State Capitol to protest the Trump administration’s policy on Saturday, April 5, 2025 in Richmond, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
Two people are seen carrying a puppet with a sign that reads "boycott billionaires" as they join others during a protest.
3 of 33  — Smith and Cecelia carry a pupet as they join others at a protest
Andy Smith and Merenda Cecelia join others to protest the Trump administration’s policy on Saturday, April 5, 2025 at the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
People are seen listening during a protest. Some people are holding signs that read "Resist" or "so much outrage so little cardboard."
4 of 33  — People listen during a protest
More than a thousand people took to the streets to protest the Trump administration’s policy on Saturday, April 5, 2025 in Richmond, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
A group of people holding signs are participating in a protest. Some people are holding American flags, while others have signs that say "HANDS OFF" and "the power of the people is greater than the people in power."
5 of 33  — People protest at the Capitol
People gather at the Virginia State Capitol to protest the Trump administration’s policy on Saturday, April 5, 2025 in Richmond, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
A large group of people are seen holding signs at the Virginia State Capitol. One sign reads "Resist the mad king and his jesters"
6 of 33  — People protest at the Capitol
People gather at the Virginia State Capitol to protest the Trump administration’s policy on Saturday, April 5, 2025 in Richmond, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
Two people are shown sharing a moment with each other during a protest.
7 of 33  — People protest at the Capitol
Matt Montero shares a moment with his daughter, Aleksa Montero, 12, as they join others gathered at the Virginia State Capitol to protest the Trump administration’s policy on Saturday, April 5, 2025 in Richmond, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
A masked man is seen holding a stuffed Bulbasaur pokemon plush in his hands, with a small child holding a small American flag on his shoulders.
8 of 33  — People protest at the Capitol
Peter Gregory, protests with his son, Felix, 5, along with others gathered at the Virginia State Capitol to protest the Trump administration’s policy on Saturday, April 5, 2025 in Richmond, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
State Sen. Ghazala Hashmi is seen wearing a gray dress with a white cardigan. She is holding her phone as she films while in a group of people in a protest.
9 of 33  — People protest at the Capitol
State Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield, takes a video of people gathered at the Virginia State Capitol to protest the Trump administration’s policy on Saturday, April 5, 2025 in Richmond, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
People are seen shouting and holding signs during a protest. Visible signs include one that reads "immigration is the American way," "hands off! social security" and "this convicted felon is not my president."
10 of 33  — People protest at the Capitol
People gather at the Virginia State Capitol to protest the Trump administration’s policy on Saturday, April 5, 2025 in Richmond, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
A woman in a purple shirt and sunglasses is seen with her head in her hand resting during a protest.
11 of 33  — People protest at the Capitol
Cheryl Johnson listens during a protest at the Virginia State Capitol against the Trump administration’s policy on Saturday, April 5, 2025 in Richmond, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
A large group of people are seen holding signs outside of the Virginia state capitol complex.
12 of 33  — People protest at the Capitol
People gather at the Virginia State Capitol to protest the Trump administration’s policy on Saturday, April 5, 2025 in Richmond, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
People are seen marching in the streets of Richmond during a protest.
13 of 33  — People march in the streets
More than a thousand people took to the streets to protest the Trump administration’s policy on Saturday, April 5, 2025 in Richmond, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
People are seen marching and holding signs and American flags during a protest. Two of the visible signs read "Resist! Like it's 1938 Germany" and "Trump Re-Arrangement Syndrome It's Real!"
14 of 33  — People march in the streets
More than a thousand people took to the streets to protest the Trump administration’s policy on Saturday, April 5, 2025 in Richmond, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
A protester is seen in a neon yellow safety vest with a red bandanna. He is holding an upside down American flag in one hand, with the Virginia state flag in the other.
15 of 33  — People march in the streets
More than a thousand people took to the streets to protest the Trump administration’s policy on Saturday, April 5, 2025 in Richmond, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
A man in the background wearing a gray flat cap, sunglasses, blue jeans and a black shirt is seen watching protesters pass by.
16 of 33  — Johnson watches a protest go by
Tony Johnson watches as More than a thousand people take to the streets to protest the Trump administration’s policy on Saturday, April 5, 2025 in Richmond, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
A large group of people are seen marching while holding signs in Richmond.
17 of 33  — People march in the streets
More than a thousand people took to the streets to protest the Trump administration’s policy on Saturday, April 5, 2025 in Richmond, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
Many people holding signs are seen in the streets of Richmond. Some of the visible signs read "hands off!!," "We THE People #NoKings Hands Off Social Security" and "We're gonna need a bigger sign"
18 of 33  — People march in the streets
More than a thousand people took to the streets to protest the Trump administration’s policy on Saturday, April 5, 2025 in Richmond, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
A couple is seen holding hands while they march with people on the streets of Richmond. They are surrounded by people holding a variety of signs.
19 of 33  — 20250405_50501_TRUMP_SA
Tyler Hurwitz, a doula, walks hand in hand with John Gustafson, a furniture maker, as they march with more than a thousand people who took to the streets to protest the Trump administration’s policy on Saturday, April 5, 2025 in Richmond, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
A closeup of two people holding hands. One person is wearing a yellow shirt, while the other person has a red shirt on. American flags are seen poking out of pockets and a fanny pack.
20 of 33  — People walk hand in hand in a protest
People walk in hand as they join more than a thousand of others who took to the streets to protest the Trump administration’s policy on Saturday, April 5, 2025 in Richmond, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
People are seen marching in Richmond under a blooming cherry blossom tree.
21 of 33  — People march in the streets
More than a thousand people took to the streets to protest the Trump administration’s policy on Saturday, April 5, 2025 in Richmond, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
People are seen marching as a blooming cherry blosson tree is in the foreground. A visible sign reads "united we stand"
22 of 33  — People march in the streets
More than a thousand people took to the streets to protest the Trump administration’s policy on Saturday, April 5, 2025 in Richmond, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
People are seen marching through the streets of Richmond. Many are holding colorful signs, along with an upside down American flag.
23 of 33  — People march in the streets
More than a thousand people took to the streets to protest the Trump administration’s policy on Saturday, April 5, 2025 in Richmond, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
A large group of people are seen marching in the street. Some are wearing masks, some are wearing sunglasses, and many are holding signs.
24 of 33  — People march in the streets
More than a thousand people took to the streets to protest the Trump administration’s policy on Saturday, April 5, 2025 in Richmond, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
A variety of signs are seen during a protest in Richmond. Some of the visible signs read "honk if you've never drunk texted war plans," we are the people," "no human is illegal," and "it's not left. vs. right, it's now right vs. wrong"
25 of 33  — People march in the streets
More than a thousand people took to the streets to protest the Trump administration’s policy on Saturday, April 5, 2025 in Richmond, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
A variety of people are seen marching through the streets of Richmond. Some of them are holding signs, some are holding American flags, while others don't have a sign.
26 of 33  — People march in the streets
More than a thousand people took to the streets to protest the Trump administration’s policy on Saturday, April 5, 2025 in Richmond, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
A large group of people is seen marching through the streets of Richmond past parked cars.
27 of 33  — People march in the streets
More than a thousand people took to the streets to protest the Trump administration’s policy on Saturday, April 5, 2025 in Richmond, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
A child wearing a blue Minecraft shirt is seen with an American flag draped around his shoulders.
28 of 33  — Bowers walks in a protest with an American flag wraped around him
Simon Bowers, 11, joins more than a thousand people who took to the streets to protest the Trump administration’s policy on Saturday, April 5, 2025 in Richmond, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
Many people are seen during a protest in Richmond. Visible signs in the picture include "hands off!! social security," "deport elon...and fdt" among other signs.
29 of 33  — People march in the streets
More than a thousand people took to the streets to protest the Trump administration’s policy on Saturday, April 5, 2025 in Richmond, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
People are seen marching through the streets of Richmond. A person's hands are seen in the foreground holding a phone and taking a picture.
30 of 33  — People march in the streets
A person takes a video of More than a thousand people took to the streets to protest the Trump administration’s policy gathered at Monroe Park on Saturday, April 5, 2025 in Richmond, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
A musician is seen performing with a guitar as a protest is taking place.
31 of 33  — People listen as a musician plays
People listen as a musician plays following a march from the Virginia State Capitol to Monroe Park that saw more than a thousand people protest the Trump administration’s policy on Saturday, April 5, 2025 in Richmond, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
People are seen holding signs and taking photos with their phone during a performance at a protest. There is a small, white dog visible on someone's lap in the photo.
32 of 33  — People listen as a musician plays
People listen as a musician plays following a march from the Virginia State Capitol to Monroe Park that saw more than a thousand people protest the Trump administration’s policy on Saturday, April 5, 2025 in Richmond, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
A woman in a green shirt with a yellow sweatshirt wrapped around her waist is seen holding a sign that says "WE THE PEOPLE."
33 of 33  — Baird bows her head as she listens to a musician plauying
“I am just so moved,” Frances Baird remarked after listening to a musician plays following a march from the Virginia State Capitol to Monroe Park that saw more than a thousand people protest the Trump administration’s policy on Saturday, April 5, 2025 in Richmond, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News

Protesters marched from Capitol Square to Monroe Park Saturday to voice their opposition to the actions of President Donald Trump and his billionaire advisor, Elon Musk.

The Richmond demonstration was part of a wave of "Hands Off!" protests that took place across all 50 states.

Tags

VPM News Virginia ImpactsRichmondGovernmentPolitics
Shaban Athuman
Shaban Athuman is a photojournalist for VPM News.
See stories by Shaban Athuman
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