50501 movement
"50 protests. 50 states. 1 movement."[1] | |
 Official emblem | |
| Formation | January 2025 |
|---|---|
| Founder | u/Evolved_Fungi[1] |
| Type | Grassroots organization |
| Purpose |
|
| Location | |
| Methods | Protesting, boycotting, civil resistance |
| Field | Political movement |
| Membership | 5.2 million (claimed)[3][better source needed] (2025) |
| Website | www |
| Part of a series on |
| Progressivism |
|---|
 |
50501 (short for "50 protests, 50 states, 1 movement") is an American progressivist grassroots political organization founded to protest the policies and actions of the second Donald Trump administration in the United States.[4][5] The group organized several nationwide demonstrations starting on February 5, 2025, with anti-Trump rallies.[6][7] The group hosted another nationwide protest – named "No Kings on Presidents Day" – on February 17 (Presidents' Day),[8] and a third demonstration on March 4, 2025.[9][10] The movement's membership contributed to the organizing of the April 5, 2025, Hands Off protests, which gathered millions of participants nationwide and was among of largest protests against U.S. president Donald Trump.[11] "No Kings" protests took place across the USA (but avoided Washington, D.C.)[12] on June 14, 2025,[13][14] the day of the U.S. Army 250th Anniversary Parade and Donald Trump's 79th birthday.[15] These events, in over 2,000 locations and attended by an estimated 5 million people,[16][17][18] represent the largest one-day protest in US history.[19]
The movement continues to hold demonstrations nationwide and is active online, locally, and nationally.
Background
Discussions of a nationwide protest started circulating on social media in late 2024. According to organizer Kay Evert, the movement started on Reddit, with activist organizations eventually joining in.[20] The movement says it was organized by grassroots activists and spread through social media.[21] The movement used the hashtags "#buildtheresistance" and "#50501", with the latter standing for "50 protests, 50 states, one day".[22] Protestors also expressed dismay about the role of Elon Musk and his actions in the federal system.[23] One protester stated "I'm here because Elon Musk is where he's not supposed to be. He is in our pocketbooks", as well as concerns about accessing confidential and personal data, lack of legal jurisdiction, and the unelected status of Musk.[23]
Signs included commentary about Musk,[24] and a spokesperson for the group emphasized that Musk is a target of the protest, stating "We are still very much calling for the removal of Elon Musk. We find it very concerning that there is a non-government official that has the access that he does", as well as the desire for stronger anti-discrimination policies.[1]
History and protests
The idea for 50501 started as a Reddit post by user Evolved_Fungi in late January, quickly gaining traction on social media. 50501's first protest occurred on February 5, 2025.[1] 50501's name was originally an abbreviation of "50 protests, 50 states, one day" symbolizing the goal for a single day of action. The organization claimed there to be 72,000 protesters at 67 protests across 40 states.[20] 50501's second protest happened on February 17, being called “Not my Presidents Day”.[8] In early February, they officially partnered with Political Revolution,[25] a group initially created to support Bernie Sanders' 2016 political bid[26] (not Our Revolution, the political action organization founded as a continuation of Senator Bernie Sanders's 2016 presidential campaign[27]). Political Revolution put up a live list[28][29] and map of protests hosted by the 50501 movement shortly afterward.[citation needed] K Starling, of We (the People) Dissent collected protests from four sites onto one list and an interactive map, for March 22–28, 2025 and April 5, 2025.[citation needed]
The Hands Off protests were hosted in 1,200 locations, including state capitals, major cities, and towns across the U.S.[9][10][30] It has been estimated that more than 5.2 million Americans came out across the country on April 5.[31] The movement announced that the next protests would take place on April 19 and that the protests would aim to involve 11 million people, roughly 3.5% of the population of the United States.[30]
On April 19, the movement hosted another rally in Washington, D.C. and other locations with the support of the Women's March, a feminist organization that organized the third largest protest in American History in 2017. 50501 helped organize the 2025 May Day protests in the U.S. and the June 14th No Kings protests.
Reactions
When asked about the protest, president of the Utah State Senate Stuart Adams said, "I think people are a little frustrated, but I also think President Trump's moving forward, and it's not going to be business as usual. And I think some of it's actually refreshing that we've got a president who will hit issues head on, deal with them and try to try to get things changed.... I think we need to give him some time to see the results of his action. I think to actually criticize something before the policies actually have a chance to have the effect that they're trying to achieve, I think is probably premature."[32]
South Carolina governor Henry McMaster commented: "I don’t know what happened in other states, but I mean they were protesting, they were well-behaved. That’s how you do it."[33]
Billionaire heiress Christy Walton bought a full-page ad in The New York Times promoting the No Kings protests after Walmart was adversely affected by the Trump administration's tariffs.[34] Trump supporters responded by calling for a boycott of Walmart.[35]
See also
- Indivisible movement
- First 100 days of the second Donald Trump presidency
- Hands Off protests
- No Kings protests
- Protests against Elon Musk
- Protests against the second presidency of Donald Trump
- Timeline of protests against Donald Trump
- 3.5% rule
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Duster, Chandelis (February 16, 2025). "Protests are set to take place on Presidents Day. Here's why". NPR. Archived from the original on February 16, 2025. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
- ^ a b "Demonstrators across 50 states look to unify a disparate opposition to Trump and his sweeping agenda | Fox 59". Fox 59. March 5, 2025. Archived from the original on March 7, 2025. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
- ^ "[Instagram post] "DGi2ZFzRPy8"". Instagram. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
- ^ Addison, Brandi D.; Francis, Maria. "What are 50501 protests? What to know about anti-Trump, Project 2025 movement in Texas". Austin American-Statesman. Archived from the original on February 7, 2025. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
- ^ Lee, Morgan (February 5, 2025). "Thousands across the U.S. protest Trump policies". PBS News. Associated Press. Archived from the original on February 6, 2025. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
- ^ Deliso, Meredith (February 5, 2025). "Protesters across the US rally against Trump administration policies". ABC News. Archived from the original on February 6, 2025. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
- ^ "Anti-Trump protesters rally at state capitals". NBC News. Archived from the original on February 5, 2025. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
- ^ a b "'No kings on Presidents Day' rings out from protests against Trump and Musk". AP News. February 17, 2025. Archived from the original on February 17, 2025. Retrieved February 17, 2025.
- ^ a b Graves, Mark; Nakamura, Beth. "Hundreds of protesters descended on downtown Portland around noon Tuesday to decry the Trump administration on the day the president is set to address Congress". oregonlive. Archived from the original on March 28, 2025. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
- ^ a b Carter, William (March 4, 2025). "Third set of 50501 protests set for Maryland and across all 50 states today". WBAL Baltimore News. Archived from the original on April 8, 2025. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
- ^ "Trump news at a glance: anti-Trump protests draw huge crowds across the US". The Guardian. April 6, 2025.
- ^ "Hundreds protest Trump administration outside Vermont Statehouse". Vermont Public. February 5, 2025. Archived from the original on February 6, 2025. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
- ^ Lee, Chantelle (June 10, 2025). "'No Kings Day' Protests Planned Across U.S. Amid L.A. Battle". Time. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
- ^ Moran, Frank Witsil and Darcie. "As military groups prepare for weekend celebrations, No Kings activists organize protests". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
- ^ "What to expect at Trump's military parade and 'No Kings' protests". BBC. June 12, 2025. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
- ^ Rubin, April; Falconer, Rebecca (June 15, 2025). ""No Kings" anti-Trump protests attract millions, organizers say". [[Axios (website)|]].
- ^ "Anti-Trump demonstrators crowd streets, parks and plazas across the US. Organizers say millions came". AP News. June 14, 2025. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
- ^ Morris, G. Elliott. ""No Kings Day" protests turn out millions, rebuking Trump". gelliottmorris.com. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
- ^ Ewing, Giselle Ruhiyyih (June 14, 2025). "The Resistance 2.0 arrives with nationwide 'No Kings' protests". Politico. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
- ^ a b Crowley, Kinsey. "What is 50501? What to know about movement sparking protests around the US". USA TODAY. Archived from the original on February 8, 2025. Retrieved February 8, 2025.
- ^ "What are the "50 States" anti-Trump protests? What to know about 50501". Newsweek. February 4, 2025. Archived from the original on February 9, 2025. Retrieved February 8, 2025.
- ^ Lee, Morgan (February 5, 2025). "Protesters in cities across the US rally against Trump's policies, Project 2025 and Elon Musk". AP News. Archived from the original on February 5, 2025. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
- ^ a b "Hundreds gather at State House, march through Boston Common in protest of President Trump". WHDH 7News. February 5, 2025. Archived from the original on February 16, 2025. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
- ^ Leingang, Rachel (February 16, 2025). "'A particularly heinous villain': a disdain for Musk has sparked protests across US". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
- ^ "About Us". The Political Revolution. Archived from the original on February 14, 2025. Retrieved April 5, 2025.
- ^ "50501 protests update as anti-Trump march in 50 states expands". Newsweek. February 4, 2025. Archived from the original on February 9, 2025. Retrieved February 8, 2025.
- ^ "Bernie Sanders's New Political Group Is Met by Staff Revolt (Published 2016)". nytimes.com. August 24, 2016. Archived from the original on August 25, 2016. Retrieved April 5, 2025.
- ^ "search: Explore events". Political Revolution. Retrieved April 5, 2025.
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- ^ "Gather ⋅ Organize ⋅ Mobilize". Political Revolution - events.pol-rev.com. Archived from the original on February 22, 2025. Retrieved April 5, 2025.
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- ^ a b "Why are anti-Trump groups planning a protest in 50 US states on April 19? 10-point explainer". The Economic Times. April 14, 2025.
- ^ "Millons Turn Out". Hands Off!. Archived from the original on April 10, 2025. Retrieved April 10, 2025.
- ^ Romero, McKenzie (February 5, 2025). "Hundreds of Utahns join nationwide protests of Trump administration • Utah News Dispatch". Utah News Dispatch. Archived from the original on February 7, 2025. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
- ^ "Hundreds gather at SC State House to protest Project 2025". WIS 10. February 5, 2025. Archived from the original on February 21, 2025. Retrieved February 22, 2025.
- ^ Cerullo, Megan (June 12, 2025). "Walmart heiress Christy Walton promotes "No Kings" anti-Trump protest in ad". CBS News. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
- ^ Peiser, Jaclyn (June 11, 2025). "Trump backers call for Walmart boycott amid furor over 'No Kings Day' ad". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
