On Saturday, hundreds of rallies took place in small and large cities across the USA, marking the second day of mass actions in a month as opposition to the administration continues to unite.
More than 700 planned events became part of the "50501" movement, a decentralized campaign that began on Reddit and got its name from the "50 protests in 50 states in 1 day" campaign held on February 5. Hunter Dunn, a representative of "50501", described the group as a "democratic, constitutional nonviolent grassroots movement".
Saturday's demonstrations, timed to the 250th anniversary of the start of the US War of Independence, took place two weeks after the "Hands Off" rallies on April 5, which gathered millions of people across the country, becoming the largest one-day protest during Trump's second term. Organizers tried to capitalize on the momentum of these mass gatherings and shift participants' attention to local efforts to counter the administration's policies.
Instead of a traditional protest, "50501" declared Saturday a day of action in response to aggressive immigration policies, economic uncertainty due to unpredictable tariffs, and the reduction of the federal workforce. In some places, food collection points were opened, while in others, community clean-ups began, which organizers believe should further unite local communities.
As reported by The New York Times, participants in the actions spoke out against the president, who they say tramples on civil liberties and the rule of law, and is overly zealous in matters of immigration, reduction of federal jobs, the economy, and other areas. In front of the White House, protesters repeatedly shouted one word: "Shame!"
Mass protests during President Trump's first term, like the Women's March in 2017, were often dedicated to a single theme, but on Saturday, demonstrators expressed concern over a wide range of issues: reduction of federal jobs, veterans' rights, social security, the war in Ukraine, transgender and gay rights, as well as misinformation about autism and vaccines.
"Everything here is a big problem," said 22-year-old Fio Holloman, who attended the rally at Daley Plaza in Chicago.
"We are losing our country," quoted NYT one of the demonstrators, 65-year-old Sarah Harvey from Florida.
Photo: Washington Post