by David Arreola
It was a bright sunny February day when we came together for the first organic protest against Trump’s immediate assault on the Constitution. We let everyone speak, yell, or whisper their thoughts on what was to come. Now, in July, it is hot outside, and we couldn’t possibly let thousands of people take the microphone. But, what if we could? After all, a mic is only one form of power. We wonder what it would look like if thousands of you reading this paper picked up your form of power today after reading this? Let’s wonder.
50501 stands for 50 Protests, 50 States, 1 Movement. We are a decentralized movement that started as resistance to the second Trump administration and all of the atrocities associated with it. We do not have leaders, we do not have hierarchy, and we definitely are not being paid. We are volunteers who band together and vote democratically on actions and events.
Our core tenets are non-violence, inclusivity, and conflict resolution. We are strictly nonpartisan, but we do collaborate with centrist organizations. We believe in uplifting community, and we value safety and accessibility. We welcome anyone into the movement who vibes with what we are about.
We are not just a protest movement. While our protests have gained popularity across the nation, we understand this is not the only way to disrupt. We are trying to build alternative, anti-capitalist systems that are equitable for the People. Survival is a human right, and we aim to provide mutual aid to all who need it. We want to offer decolonization education and do much-needed anti-racism work. Most of all, we desire to be there for each other. Justice is not “just us.” We need to go out of our way for others. We need to step out of our comfort zones. The time is now.
We are living through a major transition in human history, and it is unclear what the new rule book will be. It is time to write and live by a new set of rules that we want to manifest into existence. We must act in accordance with the societal rules that we want to see emerge out of this moment in history.
We must learn from our shared history, not erase it. When we work together, for the collective, we can evolve and heal from the colonized, whitewashed versions of superiority to create true freedom for all people who call this country home.
There is a seat at the table for everyone, of all backgrounds, to unite and help rewrite how we move forward on this path to true liberty and justice for All. We, the People, hope you will join us.
In solidarity, 50501 GNV