“50501″ stands for 50 states, 50 protests, one day.
By Jamie Landers
https://www.dallasnews.com/
A political group opposed to President Donald Trump is continuing to organize protests across the nation, including the “No Kings” protests planned in Dallas-Fort Worth and across the nation on June 14.
The “50501″ movement first took off earlier this year on social media under the hashtags #buildtheresistance and #50501. It soon manifested in dozens of protests on Feb. 5, where attendees decried everything from Trump’s immigration policies to his rollback of transgender rights and a proposal to forcibly transfer Palestinians from the Gaza Strip. It was also behind May Day Strong protests across the U.S. on May 1.
Here’s what we know about 50501.
What does 50501 mean?
“50501″ stands for 50 states, 50 protests, one day.
What are the protests for?
According to the group’s website, the 50501 movement is a “decentralized rapid response to the anti-democratic and illegal actions of the Trump administration and its plutocratic allies.”
The Associated Press reported that several signs and protesters denounced Elon Musk, the billionaire who until recently headed the Department of Government Efficiency.
“The current administration has clarified that it cares more about profit than people,” organizers wrote on the 50501 Facebook page. “We as a collective refuse to stand by as they continue to undermine the dignity of our communities.”
They continued: “We reject the idea that any person’s worth is less than another’s. Together, we are a force for change.”
When is the next protest?
50501 held a “Not My Presidents Day” protests at state capitols and city halls nationwide on Feb. 17, plus action days on April 5 and April 19.
Its “Hands Off!” rallies — which organizers said took place in more than 1,200 locations — drew massive crowds on April 5. That effort drew crowds to Dealey Plaza in downtown Dallas. Texas rallies were also held in Austin, Houston, San Antonio, El Paso and other cities.
The May Day protests on May 1 included events that stretched across North Texas from morning into the evening.
The No Kings protests are Saturday, June 14 — the same day as the Army’s 250th anniversary, Flag Day, a military parade Trump ordered in Washington, D.C., and Trump’s birthday.
Protesters have called for Trump to be “dethroned” as they compare his actions to that of a king and not a democratically elected president.
The 50501 website says the movement was designed to be peaceful, and “violence of any kind will not be tolerated.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Jamie Landers is a breaking news reporter at The Dallas Morning News. She is a graduate of The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication in Phoenix, where she studied journalism and political science. Jamie previously reported for The Arizona Republic and Arizona PBS.
This story, originally published in The Dallas Morning News, is reprinted as part of a collaborative partnership between The Dallas Morning News and Texas Metro News. The partnership seeks to boost coverage of Dallas’ communities of color, particularly in southern Dallas.
