Demonstrators rally at the Utah Capitol in protest of various actions by President Donald Trump’s administration, part of a nationwide string of protests on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (McKenzie Romero/Utah News Dispatch)
A crowd of hundreds rallied at the Utah Capitol decrying a long list of issues tied to President Donald Trump and his administration, part of a string of protests across the nation Wednesday.
Ranging from toddlers in strollers to seniors being helped in wheelchairs, the protest topped 700 people, according to a Utah Highway Patrol estimate. Bundled against the cold and rain, the group carried signs protesting billionaire Elon Musk’s insertion into the federal government, deportation efforts, abortion care bans, restrictions on LGBTQ+ rights, racism, fascism, and Trump himself.
Also being waved by the crowd were a number of American flags, and the demonstration at one point broke out in chants of “USA.”
Diana Hanebrink, 78, of Ogden sat in a lawn chair at the edge of the crowd on the Capitol steps. She brought with her an umbrella and a poster declaring “Utah for human rights to all people,” printed above a sketch of the Salt Lake City skyline.
“It’s Trump’s stepping on the Constitution that’s so hard for me,” she said.
The demonstration was part of an effort spread online calling for 50 protests in 50 states, all on one day, under the message “We the people reject Project 2025,” the conservative blueprint developed by a think tank to outline a possible second Trump administration.
Asked about the protest in an availability with reporters, Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, pointed to the nation’s struggles with fentanyl and dysfunction at the southern border, calling them problems that have been “swept under the rug.”
“I think people are a little frustrated, but I also think President Trump’s moving forward, and it’s not going to be business as usual. And I think some of it’s actually refreshing that we’ve got a president who will hit issues head on, deal with them and try to try to get things changed,” Adams said.
While Adams said he is supportive of the policies being set, he said he has “never been comfortable with executive orders,” a favorite tool of the president, and reiterated the importance of policy making by Congress and the legislative branch.
He called the moves currently being made by Trump and his administration a change from the government inaction that Utah generally complains about, and asked for time to see how they play out.
“I think we need to give him some time to see the results of his action. I think to actually criticize something before the policies actually have a chance to have the effect that they’re trying to achieve, I think is probably premature,” Adams said.
Meanwhile, speaking for Democrats, House Minority Whip Jen Dailey-Provost, D-Salt Lake City, praised the demonstrators who have come out to the Capitol not just for the “50501” event, but also in protest of Utah legislation affecting LGBTQ+ students, unions, immigrants and other communities.
House Minority Leader Angela Romero, D-Salt Lake City, agreed, adding that activism must be followed by voter participation.
“I think it’s important that people peacefully protest. I think it’s their right, this is the people’s house,” Romero said. “I think it’s important for people to show up for that, but also they need to show up to the polls.”
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