Hundreds rally in Bellingham, protesting Trump and Musk firings, wrecking of alliances
Hundreds of protesters rallied in downtown Bellingham on Tuesday, chanting slogans in opposition to the Trump administration’s actions to remake governmental institutions through mass firings and procedural changes, along with his toppling of longstanding international alliances.
More than 500 people lined the sidewalks at the four corners of Magnolia Street and Cornwall Avenue, starting before noon and lasting past 1 p.m.
“I’m just frustrated with the state of government. I don’t even know where to start, I guess,” Bellingham resident Keith Morrison told The Bellingham Herald.
The protest was part of a nationwide series of rallies sponsored by the group Fifty Fifty-One, or 50501, calling for 50 demonstrations in 50 states with a single purpose — opposition to administrative actions that protesters say are harming America and its reputation around the world.
Demonstrators chanted slogans such as “This is what democracy looks like,” and “Lock them up!” as passing motorists honked their horns.
Handmade signs reading “Musk is a rat,” “Resist” and “Shame” showed the crowd’s displeasure with Trump allies such as billionaire Elon Musk and Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
“To me, there’s heart in this and community in this, in numbers,” Heidi Ruth told The Herald.
Tuesday’s rally and march was the second organized by 50501 and the fourth protest in Bellingham since Trump took office six weeks ago and began mass firings of federal workers.
Grace Dexter-Jones of Bellingham told The Herald that she came to protest what she called the cruelty of Trump’s attacks on transgender people.
“The (attacks on) trans rights really affect my family, and I feel like they’re coming for my family. And I know that many, many other people feel the same way,” she said.
