“50501” Demonstrations - 50 protests, 50 states, one movement, occurred all over the country with thousands protesting against President Donald J. Trump’s executive orders and policies including near San José State.’
One of those demonstrations took place in San José at the statue of President William McKinley in St. James Park, a 13 minute walk from north of campus, to march and protest against the Trump administration's abuses and corruption, according to a Santa Clara County Democratic Party events webpage.
Thousands gathered at the park to voice their displeasure at the Trump administration executive orders and policies resulting in the multiple protests happening across the country.
Many of the issues protesters had were related to the revocation of student visas in SJSU, immigration enforcements and many policies affecting the economy.
Tomara Hall, a special education teacher in San José, came to the “50501” demonstration at St. James Park to support the education system.
“The theme, right, hands off, and in my opinion, education right now is the number one thing, as a teacher, someone who’s devoted almost 11 years of my life to changing our world one mind at a time, that's the biggest thing,” Hall said.
Trump’s policies and executive orders instructed the U.S. Secretary of Education Linda E. McMahon to "take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education," and to do so "to the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law," according to a March 21 NPR article.
This has resulted in the U.S. Department of Education initiating a reduction in force that has seen a 50% reduction of the department’s workforce, according to a U.S. Department of Education press release.
The reduction in staff means that many underprivileged and high-poverty schools that receive government funding may have a harder time receiving help due to the low workforce, according to the same NPR article.
Derrick Diaz, a Vietnam War veteran, who also participated at the “50501” hand off demonstration, said he thinks Trump’s abuse of executive orders make him feel powerful.
“He said, I will be a king and this is how he’s doing it with the executive orders,” Diaz said. “It doesn’t have to go through Congress, so there's no vote or anything like that.”
On Feb. 19, on the Truth Social media platform Trump said “LONG LIVE THE KING!” when discussing his administration’s move to kill New York City’s congestion pricing program, according to a New York Times article.
His wording has caused protestors to question if the Trump administration truly sees himself as a president or a tyrant.
Megan Sweet, SJSU alumna and activist, who also participated in the “50501” protest, questions the Trump administration's abuse of power.
“These folks are more willing to bypass laws,” Sweet said. “They don't really care about any previous precedents.”
International students who don’t have pro-American views and future applicants may have a harder time getting approved and revoked visas, due to Trump’s executive order “Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats,”
according to an American Council of Education article.
Recently, 13 international students at SJSU visas have been revoked, according to an April 9 Spartan Daily article.
“I think that's really, really devastating,” Sweet said. “I think particularly they were caught off guard because there was a lot of understanding in the beginning of the administration, that they were just gonna come after quote on quote illegal immigrants and such, but this really just shows that they will go for anybody.”
International students must now watch what they post as the government is eyeing those with visas and at times might not even have protested at all for their visas to be revoked, according to an April 19 CNN article.
“Trump is a hypocrite, he's got all these felonies and he's telling other people how you violated the law now you can't be here,” Hall said. “That is an abuse of power.”
More demonstrations are planned to protest the continued Trump administration executive orders and policies, according to the 50501 California events page.
“If you see something, say something,” Diaz said. “We’re seeing the steal of our democracy and we gotta say something, so we are out here saying it.”
