North Carolinians across the state took to the streets to denounce the Trump administration’s harmful policies. Chants echoed throughout communities in North Carolina and across the United States as thousands of Americans spoke out against federal cuts, Constitutional concerns, and human rights violations.
“I’m fighting for our democracy,” Cynthia Smith, a Raleigh resident, told WRAL. “I’m fighting for our environment.”
Taking place in over 400 cities, the April 19 protest was held on the 250th anniversary of the first military actions in the American Revolutionary War.
“This is a very perilous time in America for liberty,” Thomas Bassford, an 80-year-old retired mason from Maine, told the Associated Press. Bassford was joined by his partner, daughter, and two grandsons.“I wanted the boys to learn about the origins of this country and that sometimes we have to fight for freedom.”
In North Carolina, the 50501 demonstrations were joined by groups, including the Poor People’s Campaign and Indivisible.
According to WRAL, over 1,000 people gathered at Major the Bull’s statue by CCB Plaza for an event sponsored by the Durham Democrats, Engaged Durhamites for Democracy, and the Durham Progressive Democrats.
“Every single week that goes by, I think we’re getting more and more people who are realizing, like, ‘Oh no, this is way, way worse than we could have ever anticipated,” Leah Fowler, a North Carolinian impacted by the Trump administration’s cuts, told WRAL.
The protests were part of a national day of action for 50501, a group that is fighting to “uphold the Constitution and end executive overreach.”
The group’s website lists May 1st as “May Day Strong” for the next national day of action. According to the group’s website, you can find local events here: https://maydaystrong.org/
