Anti-Trump Protesters Hit The Streets In Essex County (PHOTOS)

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Soggy weather didn’t deter crowds of protesters from gathering in Essex County last weekend to voice their frustrations with President Donald Trump, Elon Musk and the ongoing federal budget cuts.

Held as part of a national day of action on Saturday, local “Hands Off!” protests included rallies in Bloomfield, Glen Ridge, Maplewood, Montclair and West Caldwell.

Here’s why protesters hit the streets, organizers said:

“This is a nationwide mobilization to stop the most brazen power grab in modern history. Trump, Musk, and their billionaire cronies are orchestrating an all-out assault on our government, our economy, and our basic rights—enabled by Congress every step of the way. They want to strip America for parts—shuttering Social Security offices, firing essential workers, eliminating consumer protections, and gutting Medicaid—all to bankroll their billionaire tax scam. They’re handing over our tax dollars, our public services, and our democracy to the ultra-rich. If we don’t fight now, there won’t be anything left to save.”

Organizers urged demonstrators to commit to “non-violent action” and de-escalate any potential confrontations with counter-protesters.

The national day of protest was supported by a coalition of social justice groups (see the list here). More than 1,200 rallies of various sizes took place across the United States on April 5, with some sources estimating the overall attendance at over a million people.

Several protests took place in Essex County.

A large crowd showed up at a rally in Montclair, with some estimates ranging between 5,000 and 8,000 people. Attendees included U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, a Newark resident who recently set a record when he spent more than 25 hours railing against Trump and Musk during a “filibuster” on the Senate floor. Read More: What To Know About Cory Booker’s Record-Setting Senate Speech

“It's time to turn our anger into action, our worry into work,” Booker urged protesters on Saturday. “It's time to turn our fear into fight!”

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Local advocacy group SOMA Action reported that 1,000 people showed up in Maplewood to march through town in the rain.

“It shows that we, the people, are standing together against this fascist takeover,” the group reported in a post-protest email. “We’re growing, we're fired up, and we won’t stop.”

In Bloomfield, protesters garbed in rain coats and carrying umbrellas gathered in front of Bloomfield Municipal Plaza and along the intersection of Municipal Plaza and Bloomfield Avenue.

Some carried signs that read “Dissent Is Patriotic” and “Make America Good Again.” Others hefted posters that decried “Trump-Onomics” and urged people to “Say No To DOGE.”

One protester reported seeing 300 people at the demonstration in West Caldwell.

“I didn’t take a pic but [there were] lots of seniors with signs,” they commented. “The seniors are rocking it!”

Video footage shows a line of people standing on the sidewalk outside the Essex County College campus.

“How’s that closed border workin for y’all?” another demonstrator commented, sharing photos from the scene.

Essex County has seen ongoing protests against the Trump Administration since the president was inaugurated for his second term in January.

• See Related: Protesters Rally In Essex County Against Potential State Budget Cuts
• See Related: Newark Protesters Will March Against Trump, Musk, Federal Cuts
• See Related: Hundreds Protest Against Reopening ICE Detention Facility In Essex County

More anti-Trump protests are scheduled in Essex County this month, including a “Kill the Cuts” rally that is taking place on Tuesday.

The county has also seen support for Trump, including an October rally in Montclair organized by local GOP voters. See Related: Republican Wanted Montclair To Raise Flags For Trump Inauguration

In February, a former Congress candidate from New Jersey who was at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 attended a Belleville Town Council meeting, asking his hometown to rename a road in honor of Trump. Read More: Jan. 6 Attendee Wants Belleville Street Renamed For Donald Trump

Former Vice President Kamala Harris took Essex County in the 2024 presidential election, nailing down 224,596 votes (71.69 percent). Trump scored 83,908 votes – about 26.78 percent.

Trump performed much better on a statewide basis in last November’s election, however, flipping five New Jersey counties from blue to red.

• Read More: Trump Signs Order Changing Election Rules (What It Means For NJ)
• Read More: NJ Republicans Hope To Boost Voter Registration Among Gun Owners

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