What to know about the 50501 movement against Trump admin policies

Protesters participated in another grassroots, widespread action against the Trump administration on Saturday.

Why it matters: The 50501 movement takes momentum from recent protests to encourage Americans to become each other’s “social support web” as the administration’s policies target marginalized communities.


  • The 50501 movement, meaning 50 protests, 50 states, 1 movement, is pushing back against what it called executive overreach from the Trump administration. Its organizing started on Reddit.
  • “Our movement shows the world that the American working class will not sit idly by as plutocrats rip apart their democratic institutions and civil liberties while undermining the rule of law,” the movement’s website said.

More demonstrators rally near the White House on Saturday. Photo: Richard Pierrin / AFP via Getty Images

Driving the news: More than 400 events were scheduled nationwide for Saturday, including rallies, protests, nature cleanups and food drives.

Zoom in: Organizers said mobilization of the movement could also include community actions such as donation drives, clothing swaps or meetings to discuss future action.

  • “We need to think about the America we want to see, where we have empathy and help each other, and just become that,” organizers wrote. “That’s just as important as protesting.”

Miami protesters denounce what they dub a “hostile government takeover” by the Trump administration. Photo: Joe Raedle / Getty Images

Context: The first 50501 protests were on Feb. 5, “a decentralized rapid response to the anti-democratic and illegal actions of the Trump administration and its plutocratic allies,” its website said.

  • “In just days, grassroots organizers—without any budget, centralized structure, or official backing—pulled off over 80 peaceful protests in all 50 states.”

Protests, such as this one Saturday in front of the White House, are part of a 50501 movement, meaning “50 protests, 50 states, one day.” Photo: Richard Pierrin / AFP via Getty Images

Zoom out: Millions of people across the country protested during the Hands Off! movement on April 5. They took to streets, state capitals, federal buildings, congressional offices and city centers.

  • Backlash against the Trump administration has also targeted Elon Musk’s involvement in the government and his sweeping cuts across the federal bureaucracy via DOGE.

50501 protesters advocate for LGBTQ rights and unity on Saturday in Miami. Photo: Joe Raedle / Getty Images

Go deeper: In photos: “Hands Off!” protesters rally against Trump across the U.S.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated with photos and details from Saturday’s protests.

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