Democrats and Republicans joined together in their thousands on February 5, 2025, to protest against President Donald Trump, billionaire businessman Elon Musk, and the controversial Project 2025. The protests, which formed part of the nationwide 50501 movement—”50 protests, 50 states, one day”—were held in all U.S. states, with South Carolina and North Carolina witnessing particularly large numbers of protesters. Protesters were outraged at Musk’s unelected role in government, Trump’s policies, and the sweeping reforms proposed under Project 2025.
The 50501 movement started in late 2024 as a grassroots social media movement. Using hashtags like #buildtheresistance and #50501, activists had soon mobilized supporters all over the country. The movement teamed up with Political Revolution, an organization that was originally established during Bernie Sanders’ 2016 campaign, to enable it to reach more individuals. The protest was intended to resist what organizers have referred to as an “authoritarian consolidation of power” by Trump’s administration and to oppose Musk’s role in the restructuring of federal agencies.
Among the most notable grievances was Project 2025, a conservative roadmap to reduce government spending and overhaul federal agencies. The proposal, critics argue, threatens public services, weakens democratic institutions, and removes protections for vulnerable citizens.
In Columbia, South Carolina, thousands of protesters outside the State Capitol carried signs reading “Democracy, Not Dictatorship,” “Stop Project 2025,” and “Elon Musk Has No Place in Government.” The streets echoed with chants of “Deport Elon Musk” and “One, Two, Three, Four, Elon Musk is Out the Door” as bipartisan groups protested Musk’s leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), which is tasked with reorganizing federal agencies.
John Hejka, a business consultant from Charlotte, traveled with his grandson to attend the protest. “I protested Vietnam, I protested for civil rights, and now I’m here again,” he said. “This is about the future of democracy.”
In Raleigh, North Carolina, a massive protest took place outside the State Capitol. A throng of people circumvented the building, waving Mexican, Canadian, and American flags in opposition to Trump’s immigration policies. Protesters marched counterclockwise, shouting for LGBTQ+ rights, reproductive rights, and an end to mass deportations.
Jennifer Griffith, a Durham resident and U.S. Army veteran, addressed concerns about Musk’s unelected position. “We have a billionaire with no security clearance running parts of our government. That’s unacceptable,” she said.
Activists donned symbolic clothing, such as pink pussyhats, keffiyehs, and even alien masks. One protester played Bob Dylan’s “Like A Rolling Stone” on his guitar, underscoring the movement’s strong roots in American activism.
Elon Musk’s Government Influence
Protestors opposed Musk’s takeover of Doge, expressing fears of unlimited power and lack of oversight.
Project 2025
Critics worry this plan would dismantle federal departments, restrict civil liberties, and privatize essential services.
Democracy & Civil Rights
The protests spotlighted threats to democracy, reproductive rights, and protections for immigrants and LGBTQ+ individuals.
The 50501 protests featured large demonstrations in New York, California, Texas, and elsewhere. The message was also propagated by social media sites Reddit, TikTok, and Bluesky, where images of protests and calls to action went viral. Political analysts speculated that the unprecedented size of the protests might be an indication of increasing dissatisfaction going into the 2026 midterms. Kaitlin Aufenthie, a protest leader in Raleigh, summed up the movement’s enthusiasm: “This is inspiring. This is what America is about. The people are stronger than billionaires.”
