2 weeks Ago By Mackenzie Bodell [email protected]
Thousands took to the streets of downtown Colorado Springs Saturday — not only to protest the current administration’s latest policies, but to organize, strategize and sign up for action with local organizations. A series of protests against President Donald Trump and his policies arranged by the Reddit originating grassroots movement 50501 took place all over the country Saturday. The 50501 movement is a "non-partisan, non-violent resistance to the authoritarian takeover of American democracy by Donald Trump, Elon Musk and their billionaire allies," according to its organizers.
The name 50501 refers to "50 protests in 50 states on one day." The grassroots organization assembled Saturday's Day of Action and Protest in Colorado Springs alongside the El Paso County Progressive Veterans. One of the 50501 organizers present Saturday, Shawn Stewart-Maddox, said the protest intended to connect attendees with at least one organization they can join to take action.
"Protest is amazing, and it's a chance for us to express our issues and to find community, but we have to continue that energy throughout everyday life," Stewart-Maddox said. "We have to find actionable items that we can do because we have to keep the pressure up consistently and constantly." Despite the snow, over a dozen organizations showed up to meet with protesters.
John Jarrell with the El Paso County Democratic Party said the group is working to engage the community to oppose "Trumpism" on a local level. Jarrell said he is concerned about conservative dominance in local elections, particularly in school board races. The booth provided attendees with information about upcoming classes that aim to teach "regular citizens" the importance of having a place on leadership boards and commissions and how to go about doing so.
"We just sit back and let the government be run by people that have interests that are different than the people that are showing up here today and different than the working class in El Paso County," Jarrell said. "That's one of the things people need to focus on." Carmen Moyer, a District 11 educator, echoed a similar sentiment.
Working the Colorado Springs Education Association booth, Moyer told The Gazette that CSEA's efforts Saturday were focused on educating the public on the importance of having a diverse school board. "One of the places that the ultra-right conservatives are trying to take over are the school boards," Moyer said. "And everyone should be involved in protecting their school boards.
" The CSEA had sign-up sheets for anyone interested in public education advocacy. As it grows its support base, CSEA hopes to do more door-knocking this year ahead of school board elections — both encouraging people to run and vote. As the protest grew in size, cars driving by used their horn to show support, some driving in circles over and over again.
A few trucks with Trump flags hanging from the beds also drove by several times, receiving boos from the thousands lining the streets near City Hall. A self-proclaimed "life time protester" told The Gazette it is important to remain peaceful. Saturday marked Tamara Whiting's third protest against the current Trump administration's policies and she explained that protests are a "marathon" not a sprint.
"We need to remember that we are here to be positive, to send our message, to educate and to just not get so upset because it will steal all our energy," Whiting said. "It will not make us able to keep up the marathon." One particularly attention-grabbing tent was that of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, which had laid out dozens of books for interested attendees to purchase.
The organization's focus in being present Saturday was advocating for socialism as a means to counter Trump's "reactionary agenda." "Even before Trump, the monopoly capitalists had a controlling interest in our government, and that will remain true until we bring out socialism, and when we have socialism, then we'll have a government that is controlled by the working class," Genevieve Richard said. Richard said the for-sale books are intended to get the organization's political beliefs out there in a way people can easily understand, whether they agree or not.
The books — written by FRSO members — aim to educate specifically on Marxism-Leninism and the Black liberation struggle. If people were not interested in purchasing the literature, Richard also had a sign-up sheet for those wanting to get involved with FRSO in other ways. The Workers Solidarity and Unity Project set up its tent only steps away, hoping to share the importance of fighting "corporate power.
" "We're here to fight fascism. Fascism, as Mussolini described it, is the merger of corporate power with state power," Harry Mangels said. "As labor organizers, one of the ways that we're going to take on the fascist administration is through fighting corporate power.
" When people walked up to the booth, Mangels informed them about fundraisers they can donate to and upcoming events where they can learn how to organize their workplace. Mangels believes fascism starts small and the workforce needs to make its voice heard now before things progress further. "I would be happy if two months from now, hundreds of people in Colorado started initiatives at their workplace to form a union," Mangels said.
"Being part of a union means that I have a pension, free health care, all of the things that socialists want. It gives me the ability to continue fighting for other working-class people." A recent protest on International Women's Day ended in the arrest of three Colorado Springs Peoples Coalition members on suspicion of criminal obstruction of a roadway.
CSPC was raising awareness on the matter Saturday, asking for contributions to help pay for legal fees, but the incident did prompt some changes. Unlike other recent protests and rallies, the streets themselves were empty, allowing vehicles to travel through with ease. The protest organizers delegated people to stand as crossing guards, ensuring no one was unsafely crossing the busy streets of downtown.
In March, a demonstrator was struck by a car outside a Steve Bannon event in Colorado Springs. Overall, event organizers said they were happy with the turnout, saying it was similar to the recent April 5 "Hands Off" protest that also drew thousands downtown. "It's cold, and I'm honestly just completely shocked.
We've had so many people out here today, and it's so cool," Stewart-Maddox said. "It's difficult right now for a lot of people, so we want to be able to find community because together, we are stronger and much more powerful.".
