Miguel Beristain
Protestors holding signs as they march on Broadway, as photographed on Feb. 5, 2025. (Hustler Multimedia/Miguel Beristain)
Around 100 protesters gathered on the steps of the Tennessee State Capitol on Feb. 5, 2025, at approximately 1:30 p.m. CST as part of the 50501 — or 50 states, 50 protests in one day — anti-Trump protests that occurred around the nation. At around 2:20 p.m., the protestors transitioned to a march along Broadway.
In response to the executive orders and actions taken by President Donald Trump during his first few weeks in office, the 50501 movement was formed as a social media campaign to organize protests against the administration on the same day in all 50 states. The Nashville protests criticized Trump’s cabinet nominations, as well as policies on gun violence, civil rights, immigration, reproductive freedom and LGBTQ+ rights.
Protestors at the rally carried signs expressing their desire for freedom and change, including “protect our democracy; we will not be silenced,” “none of us are free until all of us are free” and “we the people reject Project 2025,” among others.
Trump signed an executive order on Jan. 20 to end birthright citizenship, which has since been put on hold by two federal judges. Multiple protestors were seen wrapped in the Mexican flag, holding signs stating “we are immigrants on stolen land” and “immigrants fed me, housed me, clothed me and loved me when [you] didn’t.”
Trump also signed an executive order on Jan. 20 defining two genders, stating “women are biologically female, and men are biologically male.” Protestors were seen holding signs stating “trans rights are human rights” and “equal rights for all” in anticipation of potential executive orders.
The Hustler spoke to one of the leaders of the protest, Salem Walker, who said there was no specific organization in charge of planning the event. The news of the protest had spread by word of mouth and social media advertisement by community members. Throughout the protest, several people led chants through a megaphone. A sign language interpreter was also present at the protest to translate the chants.
At 2:15 p.m. CST, a different leader notified protestors that they would be marching to Broadway and encouraged them to text their friends and family about the rally.
“That’s how these get big — if you guys are texting your friends saying, ‘Hey, we’re marching down Broadway in about five minutes. Come out if you can.’ Please go ahead and do that,” the leader said.
As protestors headed toward Broadway, the march grew to around 150 protestors, with the first major chant stating, “no justice, no peace — take it to the streets.”
Police cars helped organize pedestrian traffic on Broadway, and officers monitored the protest on horses. Pedestrians and individuals in cars expressed mixed reactions, with many taking photos, cheering on the protestors or making counterremarks.
Students from several nearby colleges participated in the protest, including Western Kentucky University, Nashville State and Volunteer State Community College, among others. Vanderbilt’s Association for Latin American Students posted about the protest on Feb. 4. The Hustler asked ALAS president, junior Suzanna Navarro, for clarification on why they advertised the protest.
“I asked the [ALAS] group, but we don’t really know what Project 2025 entails as a whole other than the parts that concern deportations, citizenship, immigration and things like that,” Navarro said.
Kay Wright, a junior at Belmont University, shared her thoughts during the march on why she decided to attend the protest.
“We are protesting overall against Trump and [the] many policies that he’s put toward reelection,” Wright said. “People are not illegal. Gay rights are rights. Trans people are valid.”
Junior Noah Jenkins, chairman of the Tennessee College Republicans and president of the Vanderbilt College Republicans, spoke on behalf of VCR.
“While the Vanderbilt College Republicans respect the protesters’ right to criticize the current administration, we continue to stand alongside the president and the majority of Americans who voted in support of his vision for our nation,” Jenkins said.
Senior Andrew Kyung, president of the Vanderbilt College Democrats, said he believes Project 2025 shows a troubling shift towards authoritarian governance, and VCD fully supports efforts to resist these policies.
“We are already witnessing [the policies’] impact through the systematic [dismantling] of government agencies — a development which should concern anyone who values democracy and government accountability,” Kyung said. “The recent 50501 protests underscored the urgency of resisting these proposals and mobilizing young people to defend democratic institutions.”