2 weeks Ago By Kris Kerzman
FARGO — About 100 protesters lined the sidewalk along busy 13th Avenue South near West Acres Saturday, April 19, to protest actions by President Donald Trump and his administration. As some cars passed by honking in approval, the protesters rang bells, waved American flags and held signs with slogans like "No Kings, No Tyrants, We Will Not Be Silent." While centered around disapproval of the Trump administration, attendees listed numerous concerns that motivated them to join the protest, including fear over the nation's economy and opposition to the deportation and detention of people in El Salvador.
Erin Wey of Horace said it was her first time attending a protest. She was quick to say she was there out of concern for all working Americans, but especially her daughter. "She's growing up with fewer rights than I had at her age," Wey said.
The protest was loosely tied to the 50501 Movement, which first called for nationwide protests against the Trump administration in February, a month after Trump was sworn into his second term as president. The April 19 "day of action" was meant to organize protests and encourage giving back to communities, according to the 50501 website . The group also was tied to a protest held Friday, April 18, at the pedestrian bridge over Interstate 94 in Fargo.
Recent media reports characterize 50501 (pronounced "fifty fifty-one") as a grassroots group that spawned from social media and online forums. It has since taken on some larger organization, including partnerships with groups like Political Revolution, which was an outgrowth of the 2016 campaign for president by Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont.
Local organizer Wendy Hoff said she received no outside influence or resources for the Saturday protest, adding that her organizing actions have involved simply posting notice on Facebook. "Nobody's been bused in. I certainly don't have the time for that," Hoff said.
"They certainly are not getting paid. I am certainly not financially able to do that." She adds that any implication that protesters are paid or brought in from outside Fargo is trying to discredit the protest.
"No one has told me any directive. This has all been volunteer. This has all been self-motivated," Hoff said.
Hoff, who splits her time between Fargo and Alexandria, Minn., said she became aware of the 50501 Movement early on and organized one of the first affiliated protests in Minnesota. She has organized protests before, but the 50501 Movement makes coordination possible and is more likely to bring people out.
"You can get like-minded people together to do things, but life is busy," she said. While there was a wide variety of concerns voiced by protesters, Hoff said it all comes down to giving people a chance to have their voices heard. "This is our First Amendment right and we need to exercise it before it's too late," she said.
Wey, who attended the protest with her Great Dane, Betty White, said there are many like her who want to see change but are unable to take the time to take action. "I really believe there are a lot of good people out there who want to see a change," she said. "They want to embrace love, hope and optimism for the future and reject hate, racism and bigotry.
That's why I'm here, and I'll be here every day as long as Donald Trump is president.".
