The 50501 Movement Orange County Chapter

"50 states, 50 protests, 1 unified movement"

We are a peaceful, non-partisan grassroots movement with a mission to uphold the Constitution and end executive overreach. We operate and make decisions independently from all other 50501 chapters, including any state or national groups.

The first 50501 protests emerged as a powerful non-violent grassroots movement in response to the anti-democratic actions of the Trump administration and its despotic allies. The idea of holding 50 protests in all 50 states on a single day originated on the r/50501 subreddit and quickly gained traction across social media platforms.

Within just a few days, passionate organizers all across the country—operating without a budget or formal structure, including many first-time activists—successfully coordinated over 80 peaceful demonstrations nationwide all on the same day: February 5, 2025. This wave of activism has continued to grow, with subsequent days of action on February 17th, March 4th, April 5th, April 19th, May 1st, and June 14 uniting tens of millions of individuals from diverse backgrounds. The movement stands as a testament to the determination of the American people, showcasing their resolve not to remain inactive while their democratic institutions and civil liberties face attack or erosion.

50501 Orange County & The OC Indivisible Coalition

The first protests and community actions aligned with the 50501 Movement in Orange County began with initial calls to action on Reddit in February, starting on February 17 with a Presidents' Day rally at Irvine City Hall. From there, the 50501 Orange County chapter has partnered closely with the OC Indivisible Coalition to hold a weekly Rally for Democracy every Sunday from 2-4pm at Irvine City Hall.

WHO WE ARE

50501 Movement of Orange County and OC Indivisible Coalition are all-volunteer, grassroots partners. We are committed to peaceful protest, and are not affiliated with a political party.

Our shared mission: to unify the people of Orange County, California in collective efforts to preserve the Constitutional democratic republic of the United States of America.

Specifically, this movement includes any person who wishes to

uphold the United States Constitution
end executive overreach
hold elected officials accountable
support the people in our community hurt most by the current Republican administration

WHAT WE DO

In service of these goals, we

hold community-building weekly Rallies for Democracy
co-organize occasional large protests or events with a growing OC-based coalition
amplify OC coalition group and community demonstrations via event listings and other coverage on social media channels
connect people to OC-based political actions
promote mutual aid via local resourcing
promote engagement and volunteerism with local community orgs

Weekly Rally for Democracy

We hold a Rally for Democracy at Irvine City Hall, on the corner of Alton and Harvard, every Sunday, rain or shine from 2-4pm. We usually have anywhere from 350-600+ people in attendance. These events attract people primarily from California congressional districts 40, 46 and 47, but may also bring in people from other parts of Orange County, and beyond.

The purposes of the weekly Rally for Democracy are to

Provide a regular, safe, upbeat gathering space for people who are deeply concerned about our country’s slide into authoritarianism, reinforcing that there is political power in numbers, and that none of us is alone in the struggle
Build connections and community among people who share the mission
Facilitate political action through additional information on protests, phone calling, postcarding, volunteering, community action, advocacy, and other civic engagement activities
Address local needs via crowdsourcing, in collaboration with community benefit organizations
Raise awareness in the general public about the harms to our nation and to our community being perpetrated by the current regime
Encourage and train volunteers and new activists to create their own rallies, protests, and demonstrations in other locations throughout the greater Orange County area

Rallies typically include sign-making activities, a pet station, a “Chill Zone” for cooling and refreshment, chant leaders, music, and a short speaker program. We highlight community organizations aligned with our mission and themes and invite them to host tables. One of our weekly segments, known as “Not Normal News and Wins 4 The People” highlights major events from the week. We also collect food and essential items each week for those in the community most in need.

Other Protests and Events

Occasional special events are coalition-based, and usually align with a “National Day of Action” like Not My President’s Day on February 17, March 4th for Liberty, Veterans March for Democracy on March 14 (Veterans March Irvine), Hands Off! on April 5, Save Our Constitutional Rights on April 19, May Day Strong on May 1, and No Kings on June 14. These have varying structure and schedule but still align with our above stated mission and goals. Those events tend to be larger than a “typical” Sunday rally, with hundreds to 15,000+ attending.

50501 OC has drawn participation from labor unions, veterans, teachers, public servants, students, clergy and others across virtually every city within the county and beyond, with both scheduled ongoing rallies and community events in public spaces as well as supporting many protests organized by aligned individuals and groups advocating for specific issues.

Our movement includes both seasoned activists and people who are just beginning to become active in their communities. We believe that civic engagement is an essential component of democratic governance, and an inalienable right for all peoples. We welcome ALL to participate and we are committed to upholding the Constitution through peaceful action.

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