By Brendan Scanland
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Nearly one month into the second term of President Donald Trump, opponents of the 47th President are speaking out.
According to the grassroots organization 50501, the protests were a decentralized, rapid response to the “anti-democratic and illegal actions of the Trump administration.”
The group says the idea of “50 protests in 50 states on 1 day” originated on social media and spread very quickly. Monday afternoon, over 1,000 demonstrators lined the U.S. Capitol Reflecting Pool to protest the actions of the Trump administration.
“I wanted to make sure that I was part of it,” said Tabetha White.
Attendees, including White, wielded homemade signs taking aim at what they call “executive overreach.”
“Where law ends, tyranny begins,” said White, reading her homemade sign. “We need to make sure that we are following our Constitution. Otherwise, we’re not a democracy anymore,” she added.
“I think what’s happening with the administration is a betrayal of the fundamental values of constitutional democracy,” said Brian Crane, who was dressed in revolutionary-era clothing.
Crane believes the vision of America’s founding fathers is at risk.
“So that’s why the clothing, the revolutionary-era garb, to make the point that the founding principles of the country are at stake,” he added.
The pushback on Monday comes after a series of executive actions by President Donald Trump aimed at downsizing the federal government. Thousands of federal workers have been laid off and countless more are on edge.
“Definitely a sense of unease,” said Liz, a federal civilian employee who chose not to share her last name. “Federal workers are not the enemy. We work very hard. We care about our jobs. We care about serving the American people.”
In an era of uncertainty, Liz is worried about what may come next.
“I’ve heard that federal workers have been fired and told that they are being fired for poor performance when they had stellar performances,” said Liz, who offered a message to those who disagree with her.
“What’s happening right now to federal workers and to the federal government will affect them down the line,” she added.
Washington, D.C. is home to 162,144 federal civilian employees. Nearby Maryland and Virginia are home to a combined 287,000 federal civilian employees as well. For many locals in the area, the downsizing efforts are a major concern.
But for the Trump administration, it’s full steam ahead as they continue efforts to cut waste and downsize bureaucracies. It was a key campaign promise the White House says it plans to keep.
