Protesters march at Minnesota state Capitol to push back against Trump administration

Louis Krauss, Star Tribune on Feb 5, 2025

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

Organizer Brielle Lee Barrett was overcome with emotion as she looked out at roughly 500 flag-waving protesters who braved the cold Wednesday in St. Paul and chanted in opposition of new President Donald Trump.

“It’s hard to know whether to cry or jump or scream, but it’s incredible and it’s just amazing to see all these people come together,” the Shorewood resident said in an interview just outside the state Capitol building.

Wednesday’s demonstration on the steps of the Capitol was part of the “50501 Movement” — which is shorthand for 50 protests, in 50 states in one day. Thousands of protesters marched at state capitols throughout the country Wednesday to denounce the Trump administration’s recent actions on everything from immigration policy to billionaire Elon Musk’s new Department of Government Efficiency.

The St. Paul march began from locations at St. Paul College and a sculpture garden to the west of the Capitol. Demonstrators’ chants were not directed at one issue in particular and instead focused on a multitude of changes led by the Trump administration during the last several weeks. Some held signs in support of undocumented immigrants. Others waved transgender pride flags. Many carried American flags.

Ashley Benites, a novelist who drove to the protest from Shorewood, said she has been “enraged” by what she’s seen from the new administration so far. Benites noted she’s concerned her children will not be able to attend college if Trump dismantles the Department of Education as he has promised and federal student aid programs go away.

“I’m enraged on behalf of my kids as well, because they’ve never known normalcy” she said.

While most in attendance at the protest appeared to be anti-Trump, at least one Trump supporter stood on the outskirts with a “Make America Great Again” hat and a shirt that read “Miss me yet?”

Several people shouted at the 19-year-old Trump supporter, who would only identify himself as Trevor.

“I was already in St. Paul and just wanted to observe,” he said, adding he has been pleased with how Trump has taken action with implementing trade tariffs.

Protesters said in interviews they fear Trump’s return to office will lead to increased racism against immigrants and people of color. Gloria Kranenburg, a mental health therapist with the Family Development Center, said her therapy office has a focus on social justice and addressing racism in mental health care, and that it felt important to her to attend.

“What Trump is doing is just awful for all of our clients and our communities, and so we think it’s really important to be here and advocating against him and his policies,” she said.

_____