Thousands protest in the city — and organizers plan for more

Heciel Nieves Bonilla, Contributing Writer

Large demonstrations against the Trump administration’s executive actions, cuts to federal spending and a number of related issues have taken place regularly in Richmond in the past weeks and are planned to continue, including as soon as Saturday, April 19.

Demonstrations in opposition to President Donald Trump’s second term began in the city the day he was inaugurated with the “We Fight Back” protest in Monroe Park. A couple dozen residents attended the speeches held by Virginia’s branch of the Party for Socialism and Liberation on Jan. 20, according to ABC8. Focuses of the day also included advocating for worker concerns and a free Palestine, according to David Robbins, an organizer of that event.

The first demonstration associated with the #50501 movement took place in Richmond along with other major cities around the country on Feb. 5. #50501 began as a decentralized effort on social media to coordinate anti-administration action nationwide, according to the Associated Press.

Hundreds of people, many with signs, gathered at the Bell Tower on the Virginia Capitol grounds on April 5 to hear speakers discuss Project 2025, the playbook for a stronger executive capable of unilateral right-wing policy which was produced by much of Trump’s newly instated staff.

Since early February, what became the Virginia chapter of a national nonviolent protest organizer under the ‘50-50-1’ name has been the main organizer of regular demonstrations. They were the main organizers of the “No Kings Day” protest on Feb. 17 to coincide with President’s Day, according to a previous report by The Commonwealth Times.

The title was an allusion to revolutionary-era Americans’ rejection of one-man rule as well as the theme of the day’s speakers. On Feb. 19, Trump posted on X an AI-generated image of himself on a TIME magazine cover with a king’s crown and the title “Long Live the King.”

As a partial response, #50501 organized “March 4th Democracy” two weeks later and similarly drew hundreds to the Capitol grounds. The focus of this demonstration was to “condemn abortion restrictions, voting laws, and potential healthcare cuts,” according to Virginia Mercury.

March did not see another #50501-organized protest, but the area continued to see demonstrations that had been concurrent with the Capitol gatherings since February. These included multiple gatherings outside area Tesla dealerships in opposition to billionaire owner Elon Musk and his involvement in the federal government and furthering of far-right politics. These were similarly harmonized with national protests of the same nature, under the umbrella of #TeslaTakedown.

These protesters, and the people involved, became one of over 150 groups that went on to contribute with #50501 to the “Hands Off!” protests on April 5, according to NBC12. This day was different — thousands of people filled the Capitol grounds to participate in a march to Monroe Park, part of what ultimately became the largest national day of protest since the summer of 2020.

About 600,000 people registered for nationwide events, but estimates of the actual national turnout, including from the organizers themselves, place it in the millions, making it one of the largest protests in number of participants in American history, according to CNN.

Antoni Szachowicz, a community organizer working with the Virginia chapter of #50501, spoke to the broad issues the movement is in opposition to.

“The march on April 5 was to stand up to this administration and demand they cease attacking our constitution, our rights and our country,” Szachowicz said.

This broad definition of the protest aims presents the challenges of advocating in the name of over two dozen issues, according to Szachowicz.

“The most prominent issues we called out were the unjust detainments and deportations of ICE, oppression of trans people and minorities and cuts to social security and programs that support the elderly, veterans and the disabled,” Szachowicz said.

The pace of protests, one or more every month, is planned to continue — the next large demonstration is planned for Saturday, April 19, and is meant to include a networking and organizing event for local activists.

“This will give attendees a chance to connect with organizations more directly involved in direct action, particularly with Palestine, fighting climate change and supporting all human rights, including LGBT and immigration rights among others,” Szachowicz said.

Szachowicz said he also hopes to get more volunteers involved as events get bigger.

“This is an important aspect of the movement because protesting alone will not get us to a better America,” Szachowicz said.

The goal of the protests is to defend democracy so that Americans will continue having free elections, demanding this administration follow the constitution or get out and calling for the removal of oligarchs and corporate money from politics, according to Szachowicz.

Szachowicz also commented on VCU student involvement and on the demographic makeup of the demonstrations so far.

“Although we are seeing a predominantly white and older crowd, we realize this is because many POC and students have been traumatized by the government’s responses to BLM and the Gaza protests. Many students worry about risking their place at VCU,” Szachowicz said. “It is on us to create a safe environment for them and shield them from the police if they begin suppressing our movement.”