‘Not My Presidents Day’ protests erupt throughout the nation

Progressive teams throughout the nation as soon as once more protested President Donald Trump on Monday. The “Not My Presidents Day” or “No Kings Day” protests had been organized by the 50501 Motion, a coalition of activists united towards Trump’s “executive overreach.”

From Austin, Texas, to Orlando, Florida, and Boston to Phoenix, demonstrators gathered in cities throughout the US holding handmade indicators, singing songs of resistance and chanting in protest. Greater than a thousand gathered on the Capitol Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., this Presidents Day. 

“On Monday, we call on organizations and activists across the nation to once again stand united,” Sarah, a 50501 Motion and Voices of Florida organizer, mentioned in a press release forward of Presidents Day. “We will not cede ground to fascism quietly. We will fight back against Project 2025, and we will fight for the future of all of our beautiful communities.”

Protesters on the nation’s capitol on Monday carried indicators calling to “impeach” Elon Musk, resist the Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE) and save our republic. Fox Information Digital spoke with a number of protesters in Washington, D.C., about why they felt compelled to protest. Protesters mentioned they gathered to reject Elon Musk and DOGE.

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“I’m here to protest the president, protest Elon Musk, and protest all the executive orders. He is not our president. Everything he’s done is a destruction of this country. He only cares about himself and his pockets and the pockets of his cronies. He’s not here to help any of the working Americans. Everything he’s doing is mass destruction. He is a weapon of mass destruction,” Jennifer, a protester in Washington, D.C., mentioned. 

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Jennifer mentioned Trump could be president, however he isn’t a president for the individuals. Mary Hart, an educator on the protest, mentioned her immigrant and trans college students have been focused by the administration, and he or she needed to be part of the resistance. 

“I’m an educator, and I’m scared for my immigrant students,” Hart mentioned. “I’m scared for my trans students. I’m scared for my country. I just had to show up and be part of the resistance. They’re being targeted and dehumanized by multiple people in this government. They’re coming to school scared, interrupting their learning. They’re being targeted and bullied by people who are emboldened by this administration, and it’s not right.”

Jerome Bobowski, a lady dad from Detroit, led a “Where is Congress?” chant on the Washington, D.C., rally. He mentioned he protested to guard his daughters’ rights. 

Hundreds gathered on the Capitol Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., for the “No Kings on Presidents Day” protest on Feb. 17, 2025. (Deirdre Heavey/Fox Information Digital)

“My kids are power women, and they have to have as many rights as my wife, who is a power woman too. We want justice. We don’t want a country without laws. That’s why they all come here. Because we have rules. We are not kings,” Bobowski mentioned. 

Protesters mentioned they had been afraid of shedding private liberties, however the White Home instructed Fox Information Digital that Trump is a “leader for all Americans.” Responding to the “Not My Presidents Day” protests, the Trump administration emphasised his “resounding mandate” from the American individuals on Election Day and his dedication to delivering on his marketing campaign guarantees. 

“This Presidents Day, we honor the leadership of President Trump. He received a resounding mandate from the American people and swiftly took action to deliver on his promises of restoring common sense policies, strengthening the economy and re-establishing America’s dominance on the world stage. President Trump is a leader for all Americans, and he will continue to prioritize America’s interests in every decision,” principal deputy press secretary Harrison Fields mentioned. 

A protester holds up a “NO MUSK” signal on the “No Kings on Presidents Day” protest in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 17, 2025. (Deirdre Heavey/Fox Information Digital)

The 50501 Motion, which suggests 50 protests in 50 states on in the future, started with a Reddit publish, Sarah, who’s a nationwide core member of 50501, defined. From there, #buildtheresistance and #50501 gained traction on social media. On Feb. 5, they mobilized over 20,000 individuals throughout the nation to protest Trump’s insurance policies and Undertaking 2025. 

“All of this happened very organically and very fast,” Sarah instructed Fox Information Digital. “I think that people didn’t know where to put their feelings. They didn’t know how to move. I think that they were just shell shocked, and when that Reddit post happened, it gave people the power to go make their voices heard.”

The 50501 Motion is taking a decentralized method, permitting particular person teams and cities throughout the nation to articulate their very own mission. Sarah can be the manager director of Voices of Florida, which emphasizes reproductive rights, immigrant rights and queer rights. 

Demonstrators be a part of greater than a thousand individuals protesting the insurance policies of the Trump administration marched from the Boston Frequent previous Metropolis Corridor to the North Finish on Monday, Feb. 17, 2025 in Boston. (AP/Michael Casey)

“It goes down to what the states and the smaller groups want. We don’t tell people what their demands should be. To sum it up in a broad way, it’s to push back against Project 2025 and give the power back to the people,” Sarah added. 

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The 50501 is just not affiliated with a political celebration, and there’s no clear chief of the group. On the protest in Washington, D.C., the organizers preached peace and emphasised civil disobedience was not welcome.