Nationwide Protests Mark 250th Anniversary of American Revolution

From Portland to Philadelphia, thousands of Americans took to the streets as part of the “50501” demonstrations. This movement represents the solidarity of “50 protests, 50 states, 1 cause.” As those events played out across our nation, we were celebrating the 250th anniversary of the beginning of the American Revolutionary War. These events highlighted a growing resistance to the agenda of then-President Donald Trump and his administration.

Protests sprang up at one point in over 1,200 different locations in all 50 states. This was one of the most sustained and effective mobilizations of citizens since Trump entered the White House. Demonstrators filled the streets with deep emotion to show their opposition to the President’s agenda. They zeroed in particularly on the process followed by the state’s Department of Government Efficiency (Doge). When Ábrego García, a citizen of El Salvador, sought the administration’s help returning home, they dragged their feet. This reluctance led the crowd to a furious series of protests.

And while officers faced violent encounters in some circumstances, the demonstrations were largely peaceful. To their credit, participants proudly carried signs reading “No Kings,” emphasizing the foundational history of their protest. Climate and civil rights activists protested en masse outside the White House and at Tesla dealerships. Others gathered in downtowns to protest their anger. What we saw in videos of the protests was a beautiful tapestry of emotion. An intense moment included Virginia Representative Suhas Subramanyam as he recorded and shared the violent attack of a Trump provocateur on an unsuspecting crowd.

“This is a very perilous time in America for liberty,” said Thomas Bassford, a protestor who participated in one of the rallies. His quote captures the essence of what drove so many people to participate in the marches.

The scope of these protests dwarfed those earlier demos, including the “Hands Off” protests that took place in mid-April. Participants from all races, religions and genders stood together to call for justice. They emphasized the historic nature of what they did on this momentous anniversary.