Photo by Karen Ackerman Witter
Laurie and David Farrell are longtime Springfield residents who have typically avoided involvement in public political matters, but said they have “strong and deep concerns” now. “Leaders, laws, norms and customs shift and flow, but the spirit, value and words of the Constitution are the very foundation that permits – indeed, encourages – those shifts and flows. It may confuse some folks, but due process is not the dessert, it’s the meal. Freedom is the dessert,” said David Farrell. “The crowd here today and over the past couple of months have many different opinions and personal beliefs, and the right to hold, live and speak such differences is a great reason to show our better spirits by coming here.”
Another 50501 protest, part of a grassroots movement that has been organizing gatherings in all 50 states to protest the actions of the Trump administration, took place in front of the Capitol on Saturday, May 3. The term 50501 refers to 50 protests in 50 states as part of one movement that encourages people to get involved in their communities.
“It’s not like this is a business or organization where you have one person in charge of everything nationally,” said Kelley Hatlee, who has helped organize the recent Springfield protests. “I attended the protest at the Capitol organized by 50501 on President’s Day; I went there with my son as a protester.”
Hatlee said he started posting information on Facebook about the movement and was invited to become a moderator, then an administrator and then an organizer. He said Tristan Sites, a Lincoln resident who helped organize the first few Springfield events, is now helping to coordinate activities at the state level and Hatlee has taken over logistics for the Springfield protests.
Photo by Karen Ackerman Witter
Barbara Radcliff, 43, came from Bloomington with her young son. She said she was born and raised in a conservative Republican household and served two tours of duty in Afghanistan. She considers Trump’s plan to rename Veterans Day as Victory Day for World War I “absolutely shameful” as it leaves out those who served in other conflicts.
An initial protest in Springfield was held Feb. 5, one of dozens of protests that took place across the nation that day. A second Springfield protest took place Feb. 17 with the theme “No Kings on President’s Day.” The most recent protest was promoted as “Impeach, Convict, Remove.”
In all, a total of seven 50501 protests have taken place in Springfield, with a “Defend the Constitution” gathering scheduled for June 6 and another protest planned for June 14.
The participants at the May 3 protest included people who identified themselves as Democrats, independents and former Republicans who are all upset with recent federal actions.
A 76-year-old woman said she took the city bus from Springfield Supportive Living to attend the rally. She told IT she hasn’t attended protest rallies since the 1960s but showed up because she wants President Donald Trump and his whole group out of office.
A 72-year-old woman said she considers herself an independent and had never been to a protest before this one. She said her relatives fought in the Revolutionary War, World War II and Vietnam, with many of her family members giving their “heart and soul for freedom; Trump has no concerns about that.”
Photo by Karen Ackerman Witter
Susan, who asked that her last name not be used because she is a federal employee, came from Staunton. She said she grew up in a Republican household but after she traveled and saw the world during her time in the military, “I learned, thought for myself and saw what’s going on.”
One woman told IT that the election has divided her family. Her husband and son voted for Trump and are part of the MAGA movement, while she initially considered herself to be a Democrat before more recently feeling that the Democrats have moved too far left. She said she’d like to see a candidate representing the middle ground. “If there were a good Republican I’d vote for that person. We need to respect each other; it’s scary what’s happening without due process,” she said.
Hatlee said he sees momentum building. “There are so many protests now, they’re everywhere. The 50501 movement overall is absolutely growing, and protests in general are growing, too.” He noted that protests in large cities have drawn crowds of 30,000-50,000 people.
Hatlee said the April 5 protest drew the largest crowd so far in Springfield, which he estimated at around 1,000 people.
Photo by Karen Ackerman Witter
The protesters held signs related to myriad issues: education, environment, national parks, the Constitution, Social Security, Medicare/Medicaid, free speech, due process, immigration, PBS/NPR, fascism, reproductive rights, voting rights, LGBTQ+ rights and more.
“The Peoria group was just getting off the ground, but they didn’t have enough volunteers to put together their own event on April 5, so a lot of the people from Peoria came here for that one,” Hatlee said. “Now they’re having their own events.”
Hatlee said he’s heard the feedback about it being difficult to find information on the 50501 protests.
“Our main communication channel with the public is Facebook, although we’re using a lot of different platforms – we’re on Reddit, Bluesky,” he said. The public Facebook page is 50501 Illinois, and Hatlee said there is also a private group, IL 50501. He said information about upcoming local gatherings is posted on the national website, fiftyfifty.one.
“People are waking up and realizing we’ve got to do something,” Hatlee said. “Some people are concerned, thinking that protests aren’t going to make any difference, but they absolutely do. It’s a visual statement and it influences popular opinion and the politicians. It absolutely matters for people to show up and let their voices be heard.”
Photo by Karen Ackerman Witter
Tom Doherty of Mount Vernon displayed a sign protesting Trump’s May 1 executive order to cease federal funding for NPR and PBS. The order said, in part, “Neither entity presents a fair, accurate or unbiased portrayal of current events to tax-paying citizens.” Katherine Maher, NPR president and CEO, responded by saying, “We will vigorously defend our right to provide essential news, information and life-saving services to the American public. We will challenge this executive order using all means available.”
Photo by Karen Ackerman Witter
Sally Hubbs, an elementary schoolteacher in Springfield School District 186, said she is concerned about many things, including what’s happening with the Department of Education. “I believe our country is headed in the wrong direction. I’m especially worried about the future for my grandchildren,” she said.