On Wednesday, more than 50 people gathered at the Mississippi State Capitol Building to protest the Trump Administration and Project 2025.

What initially began as a sparsely populated protest with overcast skies and slight drizzle quickly grew from a party of three to about 50, drawing men, women and others protesting Republican President Donald Trump, his policies, executive actions and Project 2025.

“Trump lies; Democracy dies,” the protesters shouted from the sidewalk facing the Southern entrance of the capitol.

The protest lasted from noon to 3 p.m. Several of those present wore masks to conceal their identities while holding signs calling out Trump and other GOP talking points. Several times the group began to chant against the Trump Administration and Billionaire Elon Musk, who has taken an involved role in the administration.

Emily McDougal, a single mother from Water Valley, which is more than two hours North of Jackson, told the Clarion Ledger she came to protest the Trump Administration’s policies on halting federal spending and government-funded healthcare.

“I’m a 27-year-old single mother with breast cancer, and I literally would not be alive if I didn’t have Medicaid and food stamps, and there are attacks on those programs,” she said. “I just want my daughter to grow up in the best world that she can, the best country and state. I’m just doing my civic duty.”

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Another protester, the Rev. Jim Becker of Jackson, said he believes Trump’s executive actions that have designated federal agents to detain and deport mass numbers of people are wrong, and his executive orders that impact transgender people bothered him greatly.

The protest was one of 50 supposedly going on at state capitols throughout the nation on Wednesday as encouraged and discussed online through various social media platforms. Those who spoke to the Clarion Ledger said they all showed up independently of any one group.

Since coming into office last month, Trump has signed a litany of executive actions. Of them, he has ordered federal agents to head to the U.S. Southern border to address what he calls a border crisis, pardoned 1,500 Jan. 6, 2021, rioters, denying legal recognition of transgender people and rescinding federal funding for gender-affirming care.

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An enraged democratic senator Chris Murphy made a statement at what’s been referred to as a “nobody elected Elon” rally in the nation’s capital.

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Another protester, Jim Lightsey, said he chose to protest Trump’s executive actions, because he believes Trump’s goals are not to protect Democracy but to control the nation.

“He’s an evil narcissist and a convicted criminal.” Lightsey said. “His executive actions have all pointed toward complete control.”

Grant McLaughlin covers the Legislature and state government for the Clarion Ledger. He can be reached at gmclaughlin@gannett.com or 972-571-2335.