VERO BEACH — More than 2,000 people gathered Saturday in Vero Beach to protest President Trump and Elon Musk over policies targeting Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, federal employees, schools, undocumented immigrants and health and human services. The local protest was part of a nationwide movement called Hands Off!, which claims that Trump and Musk are carrying out an “assault on our government, economy and basic rights.”

Brighid Macchia, a co-organizer for the local protest, said the event was “energetic and a complete sense of solidarity.”

“We are standing up for democracy,” said Macchia, president of the Young Democrats of Indian River County. “Democrats feel alone in (Indian River County). I think today proved otherwise.”

Millions of people attended more than 1,300 Hands Off! protests across the country and globe on Saturday, objecting to cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid programs, along with massive layoffs at federal agencies, according to the Hands Off! website. Musk, who heads the Department of Government Efficiency, is a senior advisor to Trump, and also the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX.

In Vero Beach, demonstrators of all ages held up signs from noon to 1 p.m. at the State Road 60 and 58th Avenue intersection. Organizers said 600 people RSVP’d for the protest, but more than twice that amount showed up.

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“People are getting hurt. This is no longer about politics. It just isn’t Americans getting impacted, it’s everybody. This has to stop,” said Naomi Estes-Tullo, event co-organizer and precinct captain for the Democrats of Indian River County. “I call my senators regularly. They can’t say we’re silent if we’re out there protesting.”

Estes-Tullo’s husband, Pat Tullo, said he is a Vietnam veteran with a son who has a disability and depends on Medicaid. Tullo, who is also an attorney, said Trump’s policies were a haphazard, random attack across the board.

“It’s totally frustrating. There’s no rhyme or reason to what’s being done,” said Tullo, a co-organizer for the protest in Vero Beach. “It’s frightening to see how little a president cares for anyone or anything other than his own power and ego.”

Tullo, a precinct captain for the Democrats of Indian River County, said Saturday’s event was the third protest by the group this year against Trump and his policies. Tullo said the recent protest by far had the biggest turnout.

The local event, organized by Democrats of Indian River County, comes as Trump continues to increase tariff rates on imports from U.S. trading partners.

“Trump’s tariffs, which are projected to add over $1,200 a year to typical home expenses, are a massive new tax hike paid by working families, driving up costs on groceries, appliances, cars, gasoline and more while creating economic chaos and instability across the globe,” said William Evans, chairman for the Democrats of Indian River County.

“This tax increase on middle-class families will provide the revenue to help pay for tax cuts for billionaires and corporations, many of which are shipping American jobs overseas. We reject an agenda where billionaires win and everyday Americans lose. Hands-Off Donald.”

Macchia said Vero Beach residents should take a stand against the disgusting overreach that is happening on a national level. Macchia said she was impressed with how many people came to support the local protest.

“Today showed that Vero Beach and our country do not stand for fascism,” Macchia said.

Those who want more information about the Democrats of Indian River County can visit the organization’s website.