Forget Presidents Day as we have known it. The Donald Trump/Elon Musk/Project 2025 coup d’etat and Constitution usurpation has blown all previous Presidential misfeasance and corruption out of the water. The quaint game of ranking the worst Chief Executives which we played annually on this Blog is rendered obsolete. No other President has ever been a fundamental threat to democracy. And the speed at which he undertook the undermining of a government of laws has been so rapid it has left many of us dizzy, disoriented, and depressed.
Protesters rally against the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) outside the U.S. Department of Labor on February 5, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
But we are now rallying a real national resistance on many fronts. Among those are the Forget Presidents Day protests organized organically and spontaneously on Reddit and other media.
Julia Conoly of Common Dreams tells us what we need to know:
Organizers of nationwide protests planned for Monday, when the U.S. will mark Presidents Day, appealed to those who oppose President Donald Trump and billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk’s agenda with a simple message ahead of the actions: “All are welcome. You are not alone. Defend equality. Fight fascism.”
The call for defenders of democracy to gather with like-minded people comes nearly four weeks into the Trump administration’s “flood the zone” strategy, aimed at overwhelming its political opponents with a relentless flow of executive orders, attacks on long-held constitutional rights, and the attempted takeover of agencies across the federal government.
“In unity, we find our power; in protecting one another, we build our movement,” said the 50501 Movement—whose name stands for 50 states, 50 protests, one day—after organizing nationwide rallies against Trump and Musk earlier this month. “Let's stay vigilant, compassionate, and strong as we work towards a brighter, more just future.”
The second nationwide protest day is titled Not My Presidents Day, with attendees rejecting Project 2025, the right-wing policy agenda whose proposals have been well-represented by the administration’s actions so far; Musk’s takeover of agencies including the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the U.S. Agency for International Development through the executive order-created Department of Government Efficiency; and Trump’s appointment of Cabinet members with numerous corporate ties and conflicts of interest, despite the president’s campaign last year focusing partly on the high cost of living for working people.
“We the people will not live under a king,” said progressive organizer Kai Newkirk. “We will not allow Trump and Musk’s administrative coup.”
On February 5, said the 505051 Movement, “grassroots organizers—without any budget, centralized structure, or official backing—pulled off over 80 peaceful protests in all 50 states.”
The protests were covered by every major media outlet, showing the world that the American working class will not sit idly by as plutocrats rip apart their democratic institutions and civil liberties while undermining the rule of law,” said the group, which partnered with the organization Political Revolution to organize the demonstrations.
More than 75 protests have been scheduled for Monday so far, with a number of events planned at state Capitols.
A representative for the 50501 Movement, which grew out of a discussion on the social media platform Reddit, told Newsweek that the group is pushing Not My Presidents Day “as more of a ‘day of action,’ which would include email and phone banking, participating in volunteer activities that directly help those affected by Trump’s policies, donating to charities, etc. There will still primarily be protests, though.”
The organizers are also planning other nationwide protests in the future, with some supporters discussing another public action on March 5, according to Newsweek.
“This movement is about more than just one day—it’s about standing firm in our beliefs and seeing it through, no matter the challenges we may face,” organizers said in a social media post.
In Illinois protesters will meet at the
Capitol building at noon. A sizeable crowd from around the state is
expected (many coming from Chicago and other cities by car caravan).
Additionally, there are solidarity gatherings in Chicago where activists
plan to rally at Federal Plaza, 50 W. Adams, around Noon for those who
couldn’t travel to Springfield.
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