On Feb. 5, protesters rallied outside the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City. The protest was part of a larger movement called Project 50501, in which 50 protests happened in all 50 states in one day. Citizens at the protest expressed disagreement with recent actions made by President Donald Trump, as protestors believed he was eliminating human rights.
“We don’t like the way things are running in our country and we’re coming together…” Project 50501 Missouri State Ambassador Cassie M. said. “This is no longer a left versus right, red versus blue issue. This is now an up-and-down issue. It’s them versus us. The only minority destroying this country is the rich.”
The intent behind these protests was not hate-driven, according to the protesters. Rather than carrying themselves in a riot-like manner, those in attendance had a similar goal of community and peacefulness. Many believe the ideology behind the protest was to not spread resentment but instead to come together and be inclusive of all citizens, regardless of anyone’s differences.
In preparation for the protest, demonstrators needed to acquire a permit in order to use the Missouri State Capitol as their protesting site. Going through the Missouri State Capitol’s Office of Administration, they were able to freely march the staircase and surrounding space at the Capitol.
“We had a scheduled event that was permitted to be on the south Capitol lawn area,” Chief of Missouri Capitol Police Zim Schwartze said. “There’s different sections, different areas of the Capital that can be permitted by the Office of Administration. We don’t do the permitting, the Office of Administration does. So this particular group last Wednesday had the privilege, beyond the steps of the south lawn area, at the Capital.”
Protesters gathered at the Capitol after being informed about the event through social media, resulting in over 200 citizens joining together. Many Missourians displayed slogans on signs, such as ‘My Body, My Choice,’ as a means of expressing their desire for more freedom, as well as their resistance towards the current state of government.
“Well, I think when you look at some of these signs and you hear what they’re saying, they’re saying, ‘My body, my choice,’” State Rep. Michael Burton of District 92 said. “Unfortunately, Missouri State legislators want to try to overturn the will of the people and I think that’s wrong and all these folks think that it’s wrong. And that’s why….they’re out here right now speaking out against it.”
Those in attendance described the urgency behind this campaign. A large motivation for the protests came from the citizens’ insecurity with the government and how they hoped for change.
“This is a demonstration. People are fed up. I mean, look at what’s going on. They’re putting people in office that do not qualify. We are gonna be heard, we are not going to sit around, be quiet and allow you just to keep taking our rights away. It’s the land of the free, not the land of the prison,” said Brice Walther.
