OLYMPIA — More than 1,500 protesters gathered at the Washington state Capitol and in Seattle on Wednesday afternoon as part of nationwide protests against the Trump administration.
Across the U.S., crowds formed at all 50 state capitols in support of a grassroots movement called 50501, which stands for 50 states, 50 protests, one day. In Olympia, attendees held American flags and signs such as “Immigrants make America great” and “Reject Project 2025.”
A hard-right playbook for American government and society, Project 2025 calls for, among other things, abolishing the federal Department of Education, eliminating policies to address climate change and rolling back protections for diversity and LGBTQ+ programs.
The crowd in Olympia remained primarily on the Capitol campus lawn throughout the afternoon. As it grew, the protesters marched in a circle as some cars honked in support. At its peak of about 1,500, the crowd assembled on the steps of the legislative building where they danced to John Lennon’s “Power to the People.”
In the early afternoon, some attendees led the crowd in chants such as “USA we are,” “eat the rich” and “trans rights are our rights.”
Jessie Henneck-Aguiar held a sign reading “Dangerous Oligarchies Grabbing Everything,” a nod to the newly established Department of Government Efficiency, led by billionaire Elon Musk.
Members of Congress have expressed concern about DOGE, which now has access to the federal government’s payment system. Officials in at least a half-dozen federal agencies and departments have raised alarms about Musk and DOGE, saying their actions appear to violate federal law, according to reporting from The Washington Post.
Henneck-Aguiar said she was concerned that the Trump administration is dismantling long-standing American institutions.
Monique Ossa, a first-generation American whose family is from Colombia, said the gathering at the Capitol was an opportunity to stand up for the community.
Trump’s recent shutdown of funds to the U.S. Agency for International Development, the agency responsible for overseas humanitarian assistance, especially alarmed her.
“America has been a safe haven for people around the world and (has) been a leader for democracy,” Ossa said.
The group began to dissipate around 4 p.m., just before its permit expired.
Up north in Seattle, more than 100 people braved the bitter temperatures and gathered at the Henry M. Jackson Federal Building on Wednesday afternoon.
“What do we want?” a protester asked the group.
“Arrest Elon,” they chanted back.
Protesters marched to the back entrance of the federal building with hopes of getting inside to meet with Sens. Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray. However, protesters spoke with the senators’ staffers as Murray and Cantwell were in Washington, D.C.
Adria Shimada, of Seattle, said she’s never protested before but decided to support her sister, a federal employee in D.C.
“I am concerned that Elon Musk is staging a coup against the government and dismantling all the federal agencies,” Shimada said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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