Dozens of demonstrators gathered at the corner of Superior Street and Lake Avenue in Duluth Wednesday evening, February 5, in solidarity with the 50501 protests that were held at all state capitols across the country. Organizers said the protests were held to “oppose Project 2025 and Trump’s agenda”.

“I just feel so helpless about the state of how much is happening so rapidly. Things that you would never anticipate would even be possible. All of a sudden, five of them happen in a single day. And it just made me feel so helpless.” said one protestor.

The event’s organizer said she couldn’t make it down to the demonstration in St. Paul, so she decided to hold one in Duluth.

“I was expecting it to just be me with a sign and that’s it. If three people showed up, I would have considered it a success. This is amazing.”

Roughly 40 to 50 people showed up to the event, held in downtown Duluth during rush hour. Many passing cars honked to voice support, though of course not everyone was supportive. Some drivers yelled, or simply shook their heads as they waited at the stoplight. However, the protest was a peaceful gathering.

The demonstration’s organizer said it was the first protest she had ever put together, saying it was a way to be heard.
“That you don’t have to wait for somebody to speak up for you. That everybody has a voice. They can use it. And they can go out right now and make a difference in the world. And hopefully, hopefully, we can make a difference and really protect what’s so valuable about this country.

WDIO reached out to Republic Representative Pete Stauber to get his reaction to the protests. Rep. Stauber’s statement is as follows:

“For the past four years, we saw the Biden administration allow millions of illegal immigrants into this country unchecked and spend enormous amounts of money on things the American people didn’t need and couldn’t afford. Today, we are dealing with the ramifications of those terrible decisions. President Trump was elected by the American people to shake up the status quo and enact real change, and that is exactly what he is doing. I am glad to see the Trump administration reexamine our country’s spending, secure the border, and negotiate better deals with our nation’s trading partners. We are entering a new American era marked by strength and prosperity, and I think all of us in northern Minnesota stand to benefit from his leadership.”