50501 Movement Plans Nationwide Protests Over Easter Weekend, Citing “Authoritarian Threats” Under Trump
The 50501 Movement, a progressive protest organization formed in opposition to President Donald Trump, has announced plans for a sweeping series of protests across all 50 states over Easter weekend, with its largest mobilization yet scheduled for Saturday, April 19.
According to the group, over 400 events are planned nationwide, with an estimated three million participants expected to take part in rallies, marches, community events, and teach-ins. The movement brands itself as a united front “against the rise of authoritarianism under the Trump administration.”
“We are trying to protect our democracy against the rise of authoritarianism under the Trump administration,” said spokesperson Hunter Dunn in a statement to The Washington Post.
What Is the 50501 Movement?
The group’s name — “50 protests. 50 states. 1 movement.” — reflects its stated mission of unified national action. Its organizers describe themselves as veterans of movements such as Black Lives Matter, LGBTQ+ advocacy, disability rights, and women’s rights.
The movement first made headlines with its inaugural protests on February 5, 2025, which drew thousands of participants across 80+ events. The upcoming “Day of Action” aims to dramatically increase that footprint.
“April 19 will be a Day of Action: a nationwide grassroots response to authoritarian threats, political overreach, and the erosion of democracy,” the group states on its website.
An interactive protest map is featured online, showing locations and themes for each event — from traditional protest marches to community-led initiatives like food drives, voter registration booths, and mutual aid pop-ups.
Controversial Affiliations
Despite its broad activist branding, the 50501 Movement has drawn criticism for its controversial positions, including social media posts supporting Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an illegal alien and alleged MS-13 gang member who was deported earlier this year after living in Maryland illegally for over 15 years.
Abrego Garcia has been accused of domestic abuse and gang affiliations, but has become a cause célèbre among some far-left circles. The movement’s Instagram page openly expresses sympathy for his deportation case, a stance that has sparked backlash from critics who say the group’s agenda is undermined by defending violent offenders.
A Flashpoint for Political Tensions
The Easter weekend protests are likely to become a lightning rod for political confrontation, as Trump supporters and conservative groups push back against the narrative of democratic “erosion” and “authoritarianism” advanced by 50501 organizers.
While the group frames its activism as peaceful and community-driven, conservative leaders accuse the movement of fueling divisive rhetoric, promoting fringe ideology, and glorifying lawlessness under the guise of social justice.
With growing attention from national media and high-profile progressive endorsements, the 50501 Movement’s April 19 protests may prove to be one of the largest organized left-wing demonstrations of 2025 — and a defining moment in the growing clash between grassroots resistance and populist resurgence.
