photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World

People waved and displayed their signs protesting President Donald Trump at the stop light at North Second St. and Locust St. in North Lawrence on Wednesday, February 5, 2025.

Around a dozen people gathered in North Lawrence on Wednesday to protest against actions by President Donald Trump as part of a nationwide movement that sought to organize demonstrations in all 50 states.

Carrying signs with messages such as “No Trump, No KKK, No fascism in the USA” and “Resist tyranny” as well as a rainbow flag for LGBTQ+ rights, the protesters gathered at the stop light at North Second and Locust streets. They were protesting as part of the online movement known as 50501, which stands for “50 Protests, 50 States, One Day.”

While the goal of the nationwide movement was to hold anti-Trump protests at all 50 state capitols on Wednesday, Lawrence protest organizer Jerry Jost said he planned the demonstration in his own neighborhood instead because icy weather in Lawrence would make traveling to the Kansas Statehouse in Topeka hazardous.

He said on Facebook that the protesters would still stand with the national movement by taking a group photo to “share with our friends across our nation that we stand together for freedom and against tyranny.”

The 50501 movement aims to condemn recent actions by Trump as he begins his second term, including changes to immigration enforcement and crackdowns on diversity, equity and inclusion measures. It also criticizes Project 2025, a 900-page conservative policy proposal that seeks to eliminate checks on executive power, and prominent Trump allies such as billionaire Elon Musk, the leader of Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. Multiple signs at Wednesday’s protest in Lawrence specifically called out Musk for his role in supporting Trump’s policies.

Some protesters were still gathering at the Statehouse on Wednesday and posted photos of their demonstration on social media sites such as Reddit.

photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World

People gathered to protest President Donald Trump and immigration changes at the stop light at North Second St. and Locust St. in North Lawrence on Wednesday, February 5, 2025.

photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World

Many people protested at the stop light at North Second St. and Locust St. in North Lawrence on Wednesday, February 5, 2025.

photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World

In North Lawrence, many were seen protesting at the stop light at North Second St. and Locust St. on Wednesday, February 5, 2025.