Protesters gathered again at Athens City Hall on Saturday, joining others around the country in speaking out against President Donald Trump’s attempts to reshape the presidency and the U.S. government.
It was the town’s first rally organized by the 50501 movement, which featured prominently in the nationwide events. The name 50501 stands for “50 States, 50 Protests, 1 Movement” and represents a decentralized network of groups around the country organizing action against “the anti-democratic and illegal actions of the Trump administration and its plutocratic allies.”
Brandy Booth, a local Athens organizer, said that their current major goals are “to mobilize the people, make the government follow the law, hold corrupt officials accountable, revitalize communities, and reform Congress.” Booth explained that 50501 seeks to make the movement visible not just in capital cities or major metropolitan areas, but in smaller communities across Georgia and the United States, “to remind the community that we’re still out here fighting and give hope to communities and individuals who don’t feel comfortable coming out to protest or can’t.”
Around 300 to 400 people turned out for the peaceful protest, estimated another organizer, Alex Marchante. Many carried signs. Local elected officials Tim Denson, Melissa Link and Spencer Frye spoke to the crowd from the steps of City Hall, as did activists from UGA and various community groups.
“I’m just as afraid as every single one of you,” State Rep. Frye told the crowd. “We’re going to have to change our daily lives. We’re going to have to do things we wouldn’t normally do.” He called upon listeners to gather courage to stand up for vulnerable people even if it means putting one’s self at risk.
Frye and other speakers invoked the American Revolution, as did other demonstrators across the nation, on the 250th anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord. “No more kings!” chanted the crowd in Athens. Several protesters carried signs reflecting the same theme. Some attendees waved American flags large or small.
Late in the event, a lone heckler joined the crowd, but the rally was overall without major incident.
Richard Conway attended with his family, wearing a sign reading “LOVE [ALL] YOUR NEIGHBORS.” He has been to three related protests now and is grateful to see local people spreading the word about the gatherings. “This is about us all being consolidated together,” he said. “We’re realizing we’re not alone.”
More than 500 protests were planned across the U.S. on Saturday, with thousands taking to the streets to denounce Trump’s policies and actions.
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