Protesters gathered nationwide Wednesday as a part of a motion opposing the Trump administration’s insurance policies and Project 2025, the controversial conservative presidential want listing.
The protests, which passed off largely in state capitals, have been organized by a web-based motion dubbed 50501 — that means 50 protests, 50 states, in the future.
The grassroots effort has been organized throughout social media websites utilizing hashtags #buildtheresistance and #50501, calling on People to “combat fascism.”
Individuals attend a 50501 Motion protest towards Venture 2025 and the manager orders of President Donald Trump on the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul, Minnesota, Feb. 5, 2025.
Erica Dischino/Reuters
Protesters marched and gathered in cities together with Atlanta, Austin, Boston and Philadelphia, holding indicators with messages like “Silence is violence,” “Defend democracy,” “Impeach Trump” and “Demise to fascism.”
Vermont school scholar Andy Cole was amongst these protesting outdoors the Vermont Statehouse in Montpelier on Wednesday.
“I got here out right here in the present day as a result of it is vital for folks to be right here,” Cole informed ABC Montpelier affiliate WVNY. “As a youngster, it is vital for me to be right here. As a human, it is crucial for me to be right here.”
“I might not be capable of sleep at evening if I did not turn out to be engaged and did not be lively in my group, particularly with the whole lot that is occurring proper now,” Cole continued.
Individuals protest towards President Donald Trump and Elon Musk outdoors the Michigan Capitol in Lansing, Michigan, on Feb. 5, 2025.
Jeff Kowalsky/AFP through Getty Photos
Within the first weeks of his new time period, President Donald Trump has signed a slew of government orders, a few of that are already going through legal challenges.
Protesters on Wednesday highlighted Trump’s immigration insurance policies, carrying indicators saying “No human is illegitimate,” because the administration takes unprecedented motion to take away as many undocumented migrants from the USA as doable.
Demonstrators additionally protested actions focusing on LGBTQ+ folks, the identical day that Trump signed an government order banning transgender athletes from girls’s sports activities. Final week, he signed an order seeking to restrict gender-affirming look after folks underneath the age of 19.
Protesters additionally known as to avoid wasting the U.S. Company for Worldwide Improvement (USAID), which oversees overseas help, catastrophe aid and worldwide improvement packages.
Elon Musk, the top of the Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE), said this week he was “within the course of” of “shutting down” the company with the backing of Trump, as a part of efforts to trim the scale of the federal authorities and get rid of waste.
Individuals put together to march whereas protesting towards President Donald Trump throughout an illustration on the Texas State Capitol, on Feb. 5, 2025, in Austin, Texas.
Brandon Bell/Getty Photos
Many demonstrators took intention at Musk specifically, highlighting his efforts to dismantle authorities businesses and acquire entry to authorities information. Indicators with the message “Nobody voted for Elon Musk” could possibly be seen at a number of protests.
Vice President JD Vance alluded to that sentiment on X on Wednesday, saying, “They did nevertheless vote for Donald Trump who promised repeatedly to have Elon Musk root out wasteful spending in our authorities.”
Forward of Wednesday’s day of motion, an Instagram account claiming to be the official account of the 50501 motion shared flyers for deliberate protests with phrases like “Reject fascism” and “We the folks reject Venture 2025.”
A “Declaration of Equal Liberty” posted to the Instagram account claims that Venture 2025’s “rhetoric intends to divide, isolate, and alienate our society, in addition to dismantle the foundational liberties of our nation by attacking our establishments.”
Trump distanced himself from Venture 2025 on the marketing campaign path however went on to appoint a number of of its authors or contributors to his administration.
ABC Information’ Oren Oppenheim contributed to this report.
