National ’50 States’ Anti-Trump Protest Planned for Feb 5: What to Know

Published Feb 03, 2025 at 12:16 PM EST (Newsweek.com)

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50501 Movement—or 50 states, 50 protests, one day—is garnering support throughout social media for demonstrations across the nation to “fight Fascism” on February 5.

Newsweek reached out to 50501 Movement for comment over email.

Why It Matters

The protests are against President Donald Trump and his actions during his first two weeks back in the White House. Trump has issued a flurry of executive orders, fulfilling campaign promises such as clamping down on illegal immigration and pardoning January 6 Capitol attack participants.

Trump’s former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley has called Trump a “fascist to the core,” while his former Chief of Staff John Kelley said the president “certainly falls into the general definition of fascist.”

What To Know

The movement has a website at 50501movement.carrd.co and is active on Instagram, Reddit, Bluesky, Discord and Signal.

The group is calling for protests at each state capitol building. The information and start time vary by location.

Information on 50501 Movement’s Instagram at the time of writing indicates that:

• Arizona – State Capitol at noon
• California – Capitol Building at noon
• Colorado – Capitol Building at noon
• Florida – Tampa City Hall at 3 p.m.
• Georgia – Centennial Park at 2 p.m.
• Idaho – Capitol steps at 11 a.m.
• Illinois – Capitol Building at noon
• Iowa – State Capitol at noon
• Kansas – Capitol Building at 4 p.m.
• Kentucky –Capitol Building at noon
• Massachusetts – State House at noon
• Michigan – State Capitol at noon
• Minnesota – St. Paul Technical College at noon
• Mississippi – State Capitol at noon
• Missouri – Capitol Building at noon
• Montana – State Capitol at noon
• Nebraska – State Capitol at 4 p.m.
• New Jersey – State house at noon
• North Carolina – State Capitol Building at noon
• Ohio – Statehouse at noon and at Willard Park at 4 p.m.
• Oregon – State Capitol Building at noon
• South Dakota – Downtown Federal Courthouse at 3 p.m.
• Tennessee – State Capitol at 1:30 p.m.
• Texas – State Capitol at 11 a.m. and at the San Jacinto Plaza at 4 p.m.
• Vermont – State Capitol at noon
• Washington – Tivoli Fountain North Lawn at 2:30 p.m.
• Washington, D.C. – Capitol Building at 11 a.m.
• Wisconsin – State Capitol at 11 a.m.

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Different flyers indicate that the events are to speak out against Project 2025, the Trump administration, “attempts to destroy our freedoms and human rights” and “protest for freedom of speech, racial equality, women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, public health and safety, gun violence, climate change, wealth equity.”

The First Amendment allows for people to assemble and express their views through a protest. Police and other governmental officials are allowed to place certain restrictions, however, including shutting down a protest through a dispersal order if there is a danger of riot or disorder. A permit to march in the streets or on sidewalks is not needed as long as marchers are not obstructing car or pedestrian traffic.

At the same time, counter protesters also have free speech rights.

Protests have already erupted across the country last weekend in response to Trump’s immigration crackdown, which includes mass deportation and raids targeting illegal immigrants.

What People Are Saying

Reddit user a-friendly_guy: “It’s supposed to be a self-organizing protest that is put together by the people, spreading virally as an idea and simultaneously inculcating new developing leaders who step out their comfort shell to decide necessary details for each of their specific state’s protests.

“Some states seem well organized and some don’t. There seems to be some 11th hour confusions since many are asking the same few questions about the time to meet, and now on doubts about its legitimacy or concerns over counter-protesters.

“I am staying tuned to see how it goes – but I think it’s an earnest attempt to get something started on a national scale, despite many glaring holes in its planning.”

Reddit user sudsmcdiddy: “Y’all I’m genuinely worried for a lot of these people. I see some of them saying things like, ‘It’s a peaceful protest, we have a legal right to it!’ Even though they openly acknowledge the US is very quickly going full fascist, yet it’s like they don’t realize that in a fascist country you operate as if every action will result in brutal repression. Concerningly little regard/understanding for opsec. Anyone have any suggestions how I might help from the periphery in case things go south? The alarmist in me worries that they might be walking into a huge, dangerous trap.”

Reddit user cornflakegirl: “I’m expecting infiltrators cause problems which will justify a crackdown. I still think protests should happen, but I hope people go in prepared for pepper spray and rubber bullets.”

Think. Again. on Democratic Underground: “I believe it’s just the first of many.”

What’s Next

Protests are expected to take place on Wednesday.