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

The 50501 Movement—or 50 states, 50 protests, one day—is garnering support throughout social media over its plan to stage demonstrations across the nation to "fight Fascism" on February 5.

Why It Matters

The protests are against President Donald Trump and his actions during his first two weeks back in the White House. He has issued a flurry of executive orders, fulfilling campaign promises such as clamping down on illegal immigration and pardoning people who took part in the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.

Former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Mark Milley has called Trump a "fascist to the core," while former Trump Chief of Staff John Kelly 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 meetings will take place at the following times (local) and locations:

• Arizona – State Capitol at noon
• California – State Capitol Building at noon
• Colorado – State Capitol Building at noon
• Florida – Tampa City Hall at 3 p.m.
• Georgia – Centennial Park at 2 p.m.
• Idaho – State Capitol steps at 11 a.m.
• Illinois – State Capitol Building at noon
• Indiana – State Capitol Building at noon
• Iowa – State Capitol at noon
• Kansas – State Capitol Building at 4 p.m.
• Kentucky – State Capitol Building at noon
• Massachusetts – Statehouse at noon
• Maine - State Capitol at noon
• Michigan – State Capitol at noon
• Minnesota – St. Paul Technical College at noon
• Mississippi – State Capitol at noon
• Missouri – State Capitol Building at noon
• Montana – State Capitol at noon
• Nebraska – State Capitol at 4 p.m.
• Nevada - State Capitol Building at noon
• New Hampshire – Statehouse at noon
• New Jersey – Statehouse at noon
• New York – Capitol Building at noon and New York City Hall at 2 p.m.
• North Carolina – State Capitol Building at noon
• Ohio – Statehouse at noon and Willard Park at 4 p.m.
• Oklahoma – State Capitol at noon
• Oregon – State Capitol Building at noon
• Pennsylvania – State Capitol Complex at 11 a.m., Williams S. Moorhead Federal Building in Pittsburgh at 11 a.m. and Philadelphia City Hall 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 San Jacinto Plaza at 4 p.m.
• Utah - State Capitol at noon
• Vermont – State Capitol at noon
• Virginia – Bell Tower at 12:30 p.m.
• 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.
• Wyoming – Capitol at 2 p.m.

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 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 unnecessary as long as marchers are not obstructing car or pedestrian traffic.

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

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

Who Is Organizing The 50501 Movement?

One of the moderators of the subreddit, u/honeydoulemon, told Snopes that the original idea came from another moderator, u/Evolved_Fungi.

Evolved_Fungi's original post was deleted, but Snopes was provided screenshots by u/honeydoulemon showing that the hope was to give a "simple instruction set" and increase participation "exponentially."

Stand-up comedian Cliff Cash also publicized the whole event with a YouTube video titled "FEB 5 protests in EVERY STATE. ALL FIFTY STATE CAPITOLS."

Each local protest is run by different participants.

The 50501 Movement is partnered now with the Political Revolution.

What People Are Saying

Citizen Rosengarten, an organizer of the Springfield protest, told Newsweek: "The Illinois Citizens 50501 Movement has requested the permits to meet on the Capitol grounds. We have also received substantial threats of violence from MAGA groups, so we're meeting on Capitol grounds to guarantee that they will be limited in their efforts to harass/silence/harm us."

Cristin Wormuth, who is helping to organize the protest in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, told Newsweek: "I can see how our democracy is being eroded, and the foundational principles of our country are being challenged in a way that will do irreparable harm to our nation. Regardless of what political party someone supports, all Americans should protect our constitutional rights."

Benjamin Kirik, one of the organizers in Pennsylvania, told Newsweek: "We as a group are tired of sitting by while oligarchs and other enablers let these people look and pillage our government, shutting down services that we, the people, use and pay for all so they can start up 'new programs' and make new contracts using the money that they stole from us to pay for more rockets. It's getting ridiculous, and too many people think this is just business as usual. It is not.

"Trump is enacting his tariffs as a means to enact more taxes on us without going through Congress and is trying to sell to the public as nothing more than a weapon to be used against those that are our friends and lying about who will pay them and who is affected. All of this is akin to a junkie ripping as much copper pipes and wiring out of the house as they can before they can't anymore, and it needs to stop. We need to start organizing. People who feel lost need to know they are not alone, and we need to start making everyone aware of the ravaging that is happening to our country.

"This is not normal or a useful strategy to get the outcomes we desire. It is straight-up old-school looting in the digital age. Elon Musk cannot be allowed to just shut down any program he wants without congressional input. We, through Congress, set up these programs, and it is our decision to deal with them, not his."

Reddit user u/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 u/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 U.S. is very quickly going full fascis (...) The alarmist in me worries that they might be walking into a huge, dangerous trap."

Reddit user u/cornflakegirl: "I'm expecting infiltrators [to] 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 Happens Next

Protests are expected to take place on Wednesday.

Update 2/3/25, 1:44 p.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from the Illinois 50501 Movement and additional information.

Update 2/3/25, 4 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.

Update 2/3/25, 6 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.

Update 2/4/25, 9:15 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.

Update 2/4/25, 4:21 p.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from Benjamin Kirik and additional information.