Story by Jacob Rueda
Photos and Video by Tzeleste
Hundreds of protestors rallied at the Utah State Capitol on Wednesday, February 5, to express opposition to policies implemented by the Trump administration. The protest was part of a nationwide gathering of voices expressing their discontent at policies targeting everything from immigration to Elon Musk's influence on federal governance.
Protestors carried flags, banners, and signs openly criticizing Project 2025, a 900-page proposal aimed at expanding presidential power and incorporating highly conservative initiatives.
President Donald Trump initially said that he was not aware of Project 2025 during his campaign. However, doubts about his lack of knowledge arose when several key authors of the project were appointed to cabinet positions within the administration.
As the rally at the capitol continued, protestors voiced concerns about political manipulation, particularly in light of key authors of Project 2025 being appointed to cabinet positions.
A speaker accused lawmakers of gerrymandering Salt Lake City's voting districts to give themselves an advantage. After a raucous cry out from the crowd, the speaker went on to affirm what she believed was behind the gerrymandering.
"That tells me that they don't like what we have to say," she said, "so let's [speak out] and let's keep talking about what we cannot handle: oligarchs in the United States government."
The outer walls of the Capitol were vandalized with spray paint, displaying messages condemning Trump and Musk, whose Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has faced criticism for overreach.
Other spray-painted messages criticized the wealthy, while some simply included words like "DIVERSITY" in all caps. Utah Highway Patrol said they cited two individuals for vandalism and released them.
Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, took time out of the Legislature to speak to reporters. He emphasized problems at the U.S.-Mexico border and the fentanyl crisis among other issues he said have been "swept under the rug."
Adams also praised Trump for being someone "who will hit issues head on, deal with them and try to try to get things changed."
Despite that, he expressed concerns over the president's executive orders, saying that he had "never been comfortable" with them. He also said that he supported policy making through Congress and the legislative branch.
Meanwhile, other lawmakers came out in support of the protestors. House Minority Whip Jen Dailey-Provost, D-Salt Lake City, and House Minority Leader Angela Romero, D-Salt Lake City showed their endorsement of the protestors and their cause, with Romero emphasizing the need to vote in addition to protesting.
“I think it’s important for people to show up for that, but also they need to show up to the polls," she said.
The Utah State Legislature is currently debating a series of controversial bills. One bill, HB 267, limits unions' collective bargaining power, while another, HB 300, raises questions about the future of voting by mail in the state.
Other bills address issues such as immigration, tax cuts, and transgender students. Protestors view some of these bills as aligning with the goals of Project 2025.
The 2025 Utah Legislative Session ends March 7.
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