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Dear {{Constituent First Name}},
Since Donald Trump’s return to the political stage, opposition movements have intensified, culminating in the "50501 Movement," a series of nationwide protests organized on February 5, 2025. The demonstrations were motivated by opposition to Trump's policies, legal controversies, and broader concerns over democratic governance (Harvard Kennedy School, 2023).
This report provides an overview of protest dynamics, law enforcement responses, counter-mobilization by pro-Trump groups, and the role of misinformation in shaping the current political climate.
Anti-Trump demonstrations have been a defining feature of contemporary U.S. politics. Following Trump's 2016 election, the Women’s March (2017) and Black Lives Matter (2020) protests mobilized millions, creating one of the largest protest movements in U.S. history (Meyer & Tarrow, 2018). Longitudinal research from the Harvard Kennedy School’s Protest Lab (2023) found that protests against Trump peaked during:
The 2017 travel ban affecting Muslim-majority countries.
The 2018 family separation crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border.
The 2020 Black Lives Matter movement following the murder of George Floyd.
The January 6, 2021, insurrection, which led to counter-mobilizations against Trump supporters.
Similar patterns can be observed in the 2025 protests, particularly regarding immigration, civil rights, and fears of authoritarian governance (Tufekci, 2017).
Between 2023 and 2025, pro-Trump protests were widespread across the country, with the highest activity in states like California, Ohio, and Texas, while key battleground states such as Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin also experienced significant demonstrations. The Proud Boys and Patriot Front were the main organizers, with both groups active in multiple states. Patriot Front led most protests, focusing on peaceful demonstrations and strategic planning, while the Proud Boys were the only group involved in violent incidents.
Comparison of Pro-Trump and Anti-Trump Protest Hotspot States (2023-2025)
Anti-Trump protests were significantly more widespread and numerous than pro-Trump protests. States like California, New York, and Washington saw hundreds of anti-Trump demonstrations, while Pro-Trump protests in those same states were much fewer.
Battleground states experienced engagement from both sides, but anti-Trump activism was notably more prominent.
The data indicates that anti-Trump movements were not only larger in scale but also more coordinated in key political regions, while Pro-Trump demonstrations, though present, were more limited and regionally scattered.
Read this powerful reflection and a creative settlement at a church in Washington DC that was vandalized by the Proud Boys during their march in December of 2020.
School Community Toolbox Training from NAFCM
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Spots are limited with special introductory pricing and the deadline for applications is February 28. Apply today to bring healthier problem solving and collaboration to your schools!
ConflictTipping Podcast Ep. 41, Featuring Prabha Sankaranarayan On February 17th, 2025, Host Laura May spoke with Prabha Sankaranarayan, president and CEO of Mediators Beyond Borders International, on her journey spanning child advocacy to conflict mediation. Recorded in June 2024 and including discussion of societal conflict in the United States, this episode has become even more relevant today. The episode starts with an exploration of Prabha's transition from therapy to mediation, her commitment to creating spaces for transformation, and the formation of the Trust Network to build a peace infrastructure in the U.S. Prabha emphasizes the importance of community, ongoing self-awareness, and the global shift towards pluralistic cultures. The conversation concludes with an invitations for listeners to get involved in transformative conflict work.
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Join the TRUST Network. Just by being a conscious, thoughtful observer of your local conditions, you make important contributions to the early warning/early action system as a Community Monitor. Then, together with your local colleagues and with the support of the TRUST Network, you can take positive action.Learn more HERE.
Leaders of organizations in positive peace actions, violence prevention, deradicalization, crisis data mapping, bridgebuilding, peacebuilding, social/racial justice, democracy, governance, media, and messaging -- we are here to melt the silos and offer you valuable collaboration. Please let us know if you're interested in joining the conversation by emailing us at info@thetrustnetwork.net.
Donate. We believe we can prevent escalation into violent conflict by building a national community cohesion and security infrastructure for the US, including an early warning/early action system. Help us achieve this bydonating HERE.
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