The Daily Populous Sunday February 16th, 2025 morning edition
Authored by abcnews.go.com and submitted by McSlat

Protests against Trump and Project 2025 are planned in cities across the US

CORRECTS NAME OF THE FREEWAY - Law enforcement personnel stage in front of a group of demonstrators who shut down the 101 freeway during a protest calling for immigration reform Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

A movement to oppose the early actions of President Donald Trump’s administration is taking off online, with plans to protest across the U.S. on Wednesday.

The movement has organized under the hashtags #buildtheresistance and #50501, which stands for 50 protests, 50 states, one day. Many of the protests are planned at state capitols, with some in other cities.

The movement has websites and accounts across social media. Flyers circulating online decry Project 2025, a hard-right playbook for American government and society, and include messages such as “reject fascism” and “defend our democracy.” In a coffee shop just a block from Michigan’s Capitol, organizers of a planned action there Wednesday pushed together tables, spreading out poster boards to write messages that read “No Deportations Ever!” and “Workers Unite!”

Kelsey Brianne, a key organizer of Michigan’s rally, called it a “real grassroots effort.” She learned about the movement Sunday night and has been coordinating speakers and safety protocols.

“I got involved because I knew that there was a need, and I knew what I could do,” Brianne said Tuesday. “But also I want to look back at this time and say that I did something and I didn’t just sit back.”

Trump has signed a series of executive orders in the first couple of weeks of his new term on everything from trade and immigration to climate change. As Democrats begin to raise their voice in opposition to Trump’s agenda, protests have also begun.

On Sunday, thousands of people marched against Trump's plan for large-scale deportations in Southern California, including in downtown Los Angeles, where protests shut down a major freeway for hours. ___ Associated Press writers Joey Cappelletti in Lansing, Michigan, and Gabriel Sandoval in Phoenix contributed to this report. Sandoval is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

Substantial_Scene38 on February 16th, 2025 at 00:38 UTC »

The MAIN point of protest is to see and to show SOLIDARITY.

We don’t think that holding a sign and yelling is going to change things just like that.

We believe that showing how many of us are not ok with this demonstrates that it may not be easy to roll over us.

We also draw strength from each other, seeing that we are understood and not alone.

Protests are powerful tools, but maybe not in the way you think.

Asleepingin on February 15th, 2025 at 23:55 UTC »

Ignore the doubters online, trump and putie invested quite a bit to have them discourage you at a time like this. Go put a couple million on the White House lawn and dont move till hes gone.

TheRedZephyr993 on February 15th, 2025 at 23:54 UTC »

I implore ANYONE who opposes Trump's (and Elon's) abuses of power and is physically able to attend these protests. You may believe yelling about the issue and holding up signs is pointless, but these and future protests will be the frontlines of a greater opposition if our Congress, Courts, and Governors do not put a stop to things.

There WILL be a revolution of there is not a reform, and these protests are places to network with your fellow displeased Americans as much as they are yelling and waving signs. Nothing will change without real voices, real planning, and real action.

Your cynical doomerist comments on Reddit are actively harmful to the momentum of real movements. Your consumption of media that cries "How could this happen!? Someone must stop this" keeps you fearful and complacent. Your voice is what the people in power fear. Your collective voice with your fellows is the only power that can rival billionaire puppetmasters and corrupt aristocrats.

That turned into a whole rant, but TD;LR: PLEASE consider attending, even just to add to the crowd. And invite your friends and family.