People across Berks County took to the streets Saturday, joining the national Hands Off! movement to rally against the Trump administration’s federal government reforms.

Over 1,000 demonstrators turned out for the Hands Off protest at Fifth and Penn streets in Reading on Saturday, April 5, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)

Some 1,000 demonstrators gathered at the corners of Penn and Fifth streets in downtown Reading to protest what they called “the destruction of the government and the economy for the benefit of President Donald Trump and his billionaire allies.”

The city rally was one of hundreds planned across the nation on Saturday, including in Kutztown and elsewhere in the region. Organizers said they expected it to be the largest single day of protest since Trump began his second term. According to the Hands Off! movement’s website, the protests aim to bring attention to “the most brazen power grab in modern history,” referring to actions by President Donald Trump and his allies since his second term began.

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Over 1,000 demonstrators turned out for the Hands Off protest at Fifth and Penn streets in Reading on Saturday, April 5, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)

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Over 1,000 demonstrators turned out for the Hands Off protest at Fifth and Penn streets in Reading on Saturday, April 5, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)

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Over 1,000 demonstrators turned out for the Hands Off protest at Fifth and Penn streets in Reading on Saturday, April 5, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)

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Over 1,000 demonstrators turned out for the Hands Off protest at Fifth and Penn streets in Reading on Saturday, April 5, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)

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Over 1,000 demonstrators turned out for the Hands Off protest at Fifth and Penn streets in Reading on Saturday, April 5, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)

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Over 1,000 demonstrators turned out for the Hands Off protest at Fifth and Penn streets in Reading on Saturday, April 5, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)

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Over 1,000 demonstrators turned out for the Hands Off protest at Fifth and Penn streets in Reading on Saturday, April 5, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)

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Over 1,000 demonstrators turned out for the Hands Off protest at Fifth and Penn streets in Reading on Saturday, April 5, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)

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Over 1,000 demonstrators turned out for the Hands Off protest at Fifth and Penn streets in Reading on Saturday, April 5, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)

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Over 1,000 demonstrators turned out for the Hands Off protest at Fifth and Penn streets in Reading on Saturday, April 5, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)

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Over 1,000 demonstrators turned out for the Hands Off protest at Fifth and Penn streets in Reading on Saturday, April 5, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)

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Over 1,000 demonstrators turned out for the Hands Off protest at Fifth and Penn streets in Reading on Saturday, April 5, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)

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Over 1,000 demonstrators turned out for the Hands Off protest at Fifth and Penn streets in Reading on Saturday, April 5, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)

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Over 1,000 demonstrators turned out for the Hands Off protest at Fifth and Penn streets in Reading on Saturday, April 5, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)

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