Around 80 people stood on the corner of Cornwall Avenue and Magnolia Street in front of the Federal Building in Bellingham on Wednesday, Feb. 5, as part of a nationwide protest against the Trump administration.
Deemed #50501, which stands for 50 protests, 50 states, one day, the protest was largely organized online with posts on Facebook, Instagram, Nextdoor and Reddit. In Olympia, a crowd of about 1,500 people gathered at the state Capitol, the Seattle Times reported.
Hastily-made signs on the backs of boxes and Whole Food shopping bags held statements like “Resist” and “Stop ICE Raids.” Chants from “No one is illegal, power to the people” and “This is what democracy looks like” rang out as protesters braved the cold temperatures.
Nearly 45 minutes into the protest that started at noon, protesters marched down the sidewalk to the Whatcom County Courthouse chanting along the way with supporters honking their horns as they passed.
Since taking office, President Donald Trump has issued a slew of executive orders targeting birthright citizenship, has cracked down heavily on immigration and has rolled back transgender rights. While the Bellingham protest was taking place, Trump signed another executive order barring transgender athletes from participating in girls and women’s sports.
His administration has had impacts in the northwest corner of Washington. At least six people were arrested in raids conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in late January across Whatcom and Skagit counties. A freeze on federal grant dollars, which was reversed within 24 hours, has left programs that receive those funds such as Head Start and state transportation projects, scrambling.
“The harm they are causing with these federal funding freezes is hard to overstate, because this has never been done before,” said Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) in a press call with reporters Wednesday.
For Sophie Smith, 20, attending the 50501 protest Wednesday was a way for them to show solidarity with folks who are being targeted by the Trump administration. Smith uses they/them pronouns.
“I think being around like-minded people and at least making an outward display of ‘if these bad policies persist, we’re going to resist and we’re going to push back against it’,” they said.
Smith added providing support to immigrants and people who are being marginalized locally can also act as its own kind of protest.
Erin Matthews, 31, said besides showing up to protests, she’s taking steps to get involved locally.
“I’m signing up with the food bank and I’ve contacted Habitat for Humanity … to be one of their volunteers,” she said. “Every little bit of resistance helps.”
Annie Todd is CDN’s criminal justice/enterprise reporter; reach her at annietodd@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 130.
