On April 5, millions gathered in the biggest demonstration in years to protest Donald Trump. Organized by 50501, which stands for 50 protests 50 states 1 movement, they demanded an end to “the billionaire takeover” of the government and “hands off” of social programs.
50501 is a new movement. Inspired by a Reddit post in late January 2025, it spread through social media and gradually organized with the help of other activist groups, like Political Revolution. It is a mostly decentralized organization, relying mostly on local protesters for help organizing. They aim to “end executive overreach” through pressuring the government with these protests and non-violence.
The protests were in all 50 states, focused largely on cities, and organized through social media. Critics of the protest argue that it isn’t a grassroots movement, but rather a staged protest, with Elon Musk calling the protestors “puppets” who “have no idea why they are there.”
Organizers helped arrange buses to protest locations, but there’s little evidence that protesters were being paid. Charlotte, a Skyline student who was at a Seattle “Hands Off!” protest, says, “The fact that there are so many protests all around the country debunks the idea of them being staged in my opinion. I never even thought of that as a possibility.”
The protests signal growing dissatisfaction with the Trump administration. According to a Gallup poll, his approval rating is down to 44% from a high of 47% at his inauguration.
Similar protests have been staged before, like the Black Lives Matter protests and Occupy Wall Street in 2011, which used similar tactics of mass gatherings. Occupy Wall Street was largely unsuccessful due to a lack of tangible goals; the movement slowly faded out.
Ms. Petersen, a Skyline High School teacher, says, “It would also be important to consider what protesting methods create a ‘non-violent tension ’- in the words of Dr. King- that can lead to change.” In her view, the success of these protests largely depends on whether the movement creates enough unrest for change to become inevitable.
So far, the hands-off protests have retained a large following, and momentum remains strong. Their latest protest on April 19, called “National Day of Action,” had thousands gather in all 50 states, and they are planning for another protest on May 1.
Whether the protesters achieve their objectives remains to be seen, though the lack of tangible policy goals, while helping them appeal to a wider audience, may lead to their downfall, much like Occupy Wall Street.
For more information:
50501 Handbook
Protesters unite against Trump in hundreds of rallies across the U.S.
