Spearheaded by something called the 50501 Movement, the protests are set to take place on Wednesday across the country and will include speakers railing against not only the controversial elements of Project 2025, but against President Donald Trump’s recent spate of executive orders.
The Texas Reject Project 2025 protest will take place in Austin at the Texas Capitol at 11 a.m. There is no Dallas or Fort Worth protest planned.
What Is Project 2025?
Formally titled the 2025 presidential Transition Project, the plan is “the effort of a broad coalition of conservative organizations that have come together to ensure a successful administration begins in January 2025,” according to its official website. Organized by the ultra-conservative outfit The Heritage Foundation, the project aims to “take back” the government through “the right conservative policy recommendations and properly vetted and trained personnel to implement them.”The left-leaning American Civil Liberties Union, on the other hand, describes Project 2025 a tad differently.
“Project 2025 is a federal policy agenda and blueprint for a radical restructuring of the executive branch authored and published by former Trump administration officials in partnership with The Heritage Foundation, a longstanding conservative think tank that opposes abortion and reproductive rights, LGBTQ rights, immigrants’ rights, and racial equity,” reads the ACLU’s website.
Although Trump often distanced himself from Project 2025 or flat-out denied having any knowledge of it while on the campaign trail, he has many personal and political connections to people who played a part in crafting the controversial plan. Added to that, many of the executive orders Trump has signed since his inauguration are aligned with stated Project 2025 goals.
CBS News recently highlighted many of the matches between Trump's recent actions and Project 2025. Trump’s desire to restructure or eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency, better known as FEMA, for example, is noted in Project 2025, as are Trump’s moves to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) offices and programs from the federal government.
What is the 50501 Movement?
The name itself is simple to explain: 50 states, 50 protests, 1 day. The movement's official website gives other hints with phrases including “We The People,” “Reject Project 2025” and “Fight Fascism” featured on the page that leads you to their social media channels. “Our coalition of grassroots organizers is committed to addressing the urgent need for unity, justice, and positive change across the United States,” reads the group’s mission statement on its Reddit page. “We are a diverse and dynamic group partnering with various organizations, yet we remain an independent collective, embodying the collective unrest of the American population at the local level.”
Also listed on Reddit are some demands the movement is making.
“Donald Trump and his administration need to address the American people and own up to his lies and acknowledge the harm caused by his administration,” the Reddit page states. “Our coalition calls for immediate actions to rectify the injustices perpetuated by current leadership and to restore integrity and fairness to our political system. We demand transparency, accountability, and the prioritization of human rights and equality.”
