Thousands Participate in US “50501” Protests to Criticize Trump Policies

The “50501” protests, which are in opposition to Trump’s broad government policies and activities, have drawn thousands of participants from across the US.

On Saturday, thousands of protesters gathered nationwide to voice their opposition to President Donald Trump’s recent acts, which include the contentious deportation of Kilmar Ábrego García, a Salvadoran national who was mistakenly removed from the country.

Commemorating the 250th anniversary of the American Revolutionary War, the protests were dubbed “50501” — short for “50 protests, 50 states, one movement” — and participants drew comparisons between the past struggle against monarchy and the current political environment.

In large cities, protesters gathered in front of public squares, Tesla showrooms, and the White House. Many of them carried placards that read “No Kings,” drawing attention to what they believe to be authoritarian tendencies in the Trump administration. Though a video shared by Democrat Representative Suhas Subramanyam showed a Trump fan violently addressing demonstrators, the demonstrations were generally peaceful.

One of the main issues that fueled the protests was the administration’s refusal to help Ábrego García, who had no criminal convictions but was deported to El Salvador under the Alien Enemies Act, return. He must be permitted to challenge his removal, the Supreme Court has decided, despite the Trump administration’s insistence that he “will never” be permitted to return.

Thomas Bassford, who accompanied his family to the Boston demonstration, stated, “This is a very perilous time in America for liberty.” “I wanted the boys to understand the history of this nation and the fact that freedom is something we must fight for at times.”

Others, like Gihad Elgendy, demonstrated in front of the White House and called for transparency. “El Salvador could easily be pressured by Trump to bring him back,” he said CNN.

Additionally targeted by the demonstrations was the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a Trump project that is cutting back on government services and jobs. Protesters charged that the department was reducing protections for marginalized people and undermining federal institutions.

Even while political protests are becoming more frequent, Saturday’s events came after huge protests earlier this month that drew hundreds of thousands of people to 1,200 places around the country.

Trump’s approval numbers are still declining in the meantime. Gallup reports that his approval dropped from 47% at the beginning of his term in January to 45% in the first quarter. Economic approval has declined, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll, with only 37% of respondents supporting his economic management, down to 42% on Inauguration Day.