Denver Joins Nationwide 50501 Protests: Thousands Rally for Justice, Equality, and Democracy
Melissa Mortimer waves a pride flag at the 50501 protest at the Colorado State Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 5..
Story by Bert Ballard and Giles Clasen
Photos by Giles Clasen
Coloradans made their voices heard at yesterday’s 50501 protest at the Colorado State Capitol.
Thousands danced, chanted and marched displaying unity in opposing President Trump’sexecutive orders and actions during his first weeks in office.
The peaceful protesters gathered as part of a nationwide protest, billed as “50501” - 50 protests, in 50 states on 1 day - denouncing deportations, attacks on LGBTQ+ rights, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, and other initiatives rooted in Project 2025, a far-right transition plan to drastically reduce the size and scope of the federal government,
The protest was on the same day Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers conducted raids throughout the Denver area, including door-to-door tactics that led many to feel scared and unduly pressured.
Many of those at the protest were there fighting because of how the new policies affect them and their families.
High schooler Mya Buelna said, “My family is impacted by deportations. All our parents are immigrants and we want them to be there when we graduate. It's about fighting for other people other than ourselves.”
José Lopez said his parents came to the United States for a better life too.
“The beautiful thing is the diversity in this country,” Lopez said. “[My parents] came here for the American dream. But we don’t forget our roots.”
Even with the pallor of ICE raids and the fear for family and friends, there was a celebratory mood as many danced in the streets.
Zuri Carrillo and Olga Dozal both danced and shared that have family members already impacted, and Dozal’s mother is not yet a citizen.
Shereen Murad, who is Kurdish and immigrated from Iraq in 1997, spoke to the crowd about violence she saw in Iraq and the threat she sees in the United States.
“Democracy for all. Democracy for around the world. Democracy has to be for all,” Murad said. “People are being killed in the Middle East where there is no democracy. We need to support democracy all over the world. If we do not support democracy, fascists will take over like in the Middle East.”
Another speaker, Celine Saldivar, quoted the band Green Day yelling into the mic, “We are not part of the MAGA agenda.”
She said she came from a family of Dreamers and was scared and angry about the future.
“They’re okay when we’re cleaning their houses,” Saldivar said. “They’re okay when we are serving them food. Why are they okay when we do the jobs they don’t want, but when our people scream for equal rights and call this country our home now it’s a problem, and I don’t stand for that.”
While immigration concerns were front and center throughout the protest, support for other issues and regions of the world were voiced. Protestors chanted, “Free Palestine,” throughout the day.
Anti-gang activist and former mayoral candidate Terrance Roberts said he was there to stand with those impacted by Trump's executive order.
“These are our brothers and sisters. They supported us for Black Lives Matter,” Roberts said. “The same way they were standing with us I'll stand with them. It's not anti America. America is the land of the free, and we are a country of flags from different nations. No one should be upset about flying a Palestinian flag or a Mexican flag or any flag.”
Another attendee, who asked to be identified by only her first name, Catherine said, “Everyone is impacted by this. We all have cousins and friends that we know who are being impacted.”
While there were a few marches around the Capitol throughout the day, the most significant one took place from about 3 pm to 4 pm, starting at the Capitol and stretching along Colfax to 7th Avenue, then turning back down 13th Avenue. At one point the march stretched nearly a mile, stopping traffic downtown and causing delays felt throughout the city.
Christopher Savin, one of the organizers, launched the planned speakers at 12 pm, encouraging everyone to make their voices heard and challenge the current administration: “Any kind of legitimacy of him (President Trump) only further emboldens him and puts us all in greater and greater danger.” He then invited others to speak.”
Another speaker, Pasha Ripley, who is a co-founder of Parasol Patrol, identified as a queer, Asian American woman and spoke passionately about the risk she saw Trump’s presidency poses.
“We are all in the crosshairs of Project 2025, a fascist manifesto disguised as policy, designed to rip our rights away, to erase our communities, and to silence us with fear,” Ripley said.
Ripley added that together we are “Louder than hate, stronger than fear, united in love.”
There were a few planned speakers, but the majority of the speakers lined up to offer their perspectives and lend their voices on the steps of the Capitol.
Many at the Denver protest were there to fight for LGBTQ+ rights.
Queer and same-sex couples openly held hands and held one another. José Trejo said he attended because he has a trans friend who was assaulted recently.
The crowd included young and old protestors.
One young individual stood with a sign that said, “I’m 10 and even I know better.”
Nina Sokol joined the protest carrying a small American flag and a sign that said “Fight Hate.” She said it was important for older individuals like herself to speak out.
“I’m with everybody my age who’s saying, ‘Are you kidding me?’ I think it’s miserable we have to be here,” Sokol said.
Many of the protestors are veterans who wore hats and shirts identifying their old military units.
Gina Martin, a veteran, said, “I took an oath to defend the constitution and I never rescinded that oath. I am here to fight for human rights.”
The 50501 protest was the largest in the Denver area since Black Lives Matter in 2020, during Trump’s first term. Unlike the 2020 protests, however, there was no violence or destruction of property. Those delayed by the protest seemed supportive with many honking and cheering as protestors marched during rush hour.
Forty 40 states participated in 50501 and organizers called the nationwide grassroots efforts successful and praised the lack of incidents and no reported instances of violence or conflicts with police, a truly national and peaceful protest.
“What’s happening in this country affects every single person regardless of our identity and our citizenship. And really importantly it affects Republicans. It affects the MAGA group. It affects everybody. And more than that it affects everybody in the world,” said Amy Zuckerman.
There are two more planned protests in the coming days. Saturday, February 8 at 10 am, a group plans to march at Buckley Air Force Base, which is now serving as an ICE detention center. There is another protest the same day at 2 pm at the Capitol in support of immigrant rights.