SHELBURNE FALLS — “Part of a democracy is speaking up,” says Sarah Pirtle, who brought together dozens of protesters at the Iron Bridge on Saturday to sing songs of hope and spread resistance against the Trump administration as part of the national 50501 movement.

The movement, which began in early February, calls for citizens to hold 50 protests in each of the 50 states on one day, to rally against the actions and policies of President Donald Trump. Since the original day of action on Feb. 5, subsequent protests were held Feb. 17, March 4, April 5 and most recently, April 19, according to the movement’s website.

“Everyone is shocked and part of being part of a democracy is speaking up. So we’re here today to be a part of democracy,” Pirtle said. “Part of the strategy is to create so many fires at once so people don’t know what to do. So that’s why today is not just about one thing.”

Dozens of protesters gathered at the Iron Bridge in Shelburne Falls to speak about feelings of fear stemming from the deportation of immigrants and anti-immigrant rhetoric, and cuts to federal funding that supports education, health, human services and more. Protesters argued that, rather than live in fear, they need to stand together to fight back and support communities being impacted by decisions being made in the White House.

“We are living in challenging times, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the world’s problems and not know where to go or what to do. The weight of uncertainty can be paralyzing, leaving us frozen in fear,” said Chris Williams, founder of the Mountain Man Network, a survival skills, peer coaching and homelessness outreach consulting organization. “Instead of expecting a solution to be given to us from an outside source, let’s focus on what we can do as a community together. Each person here today has the power to create a ripple effect, and make a positive change where they live and work.”

Protesters also convened in Ashfield on Saturday, standing on the town common across from the First Congregational Church.

“I’m fearful and I’m furious and I’m fighting back,” said Ashfield resident Jim Murphy.

“I’m angry that Trump is turning our country into cesspool,” said Ashfield protest organizer Amanda Nash.

While balancing their own feelings of fear and anger, protesters remained united in spreading hope. In Shelburne Falls, protesters marched down Bridge Street and around the corner to the Shelburne-Buckland Community Center while singing songs about love, unity and how “hate won’t make America great again” before marching to Trinity Church for refreshments. In Ashfield, protesters passed out “seeds of hope,” giving passersby seed packets with information about charities they can support.

“What’s happening right now in our country is just horrifying. People are getting snatched up off the street, and there’s threats to our Constitution and the bedrock values of our country,” said Ashfield resident Alexandra Osterman. “So our theme today is resistance, and we’ve been handing out seed packets to give people ideas of where to donate. We’re just trying to give people an opportunity to express their feelings and take action.”

Osterman said 50501, Franklin County Continuing the Political Revolution and other political activist groups are calling for more protests in the weeks and months ahead. On Friday, April 25, FCCPR is asking protesters to participate in an “Overpass Day” by standing along overpasses on Interstate 91, and 50501 is asking protesters to organize events on May 1 for a national day of action.

The Overpass Day, according to an announcement from FCCPR member David Greenberg, will bring together progressive organizations from 4 to 6 p.m. at Interstate 91 overpasses between Enfield, Connecticut, and Putney, Vermont, with FCCPR covering the six overpasses in Franklin County.

“The purpose of this action will be to raise awareness about the multiple attacks on our society and our democracy by the Trump administration,” Greenberg’s announcement reads. “Cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, veterans’ services, funding of all kinds to universities and nonprofits, and the downsizing and/or eradication of the Department of Education, the EPA, NOAA, etc., are completely unacceptable. Not to mention kidnapping legal residents off the streets and from their homes and shipping them out-of-state or to El Salvador, ignoring decisions by the Supreme Court. These actions completely obliterate the constitutional rights to which we are all entitled.”

“Another world is possible,” Pirtle said. “We’re here to say we want to foster love. We’re non-nonviolent, we’re democratic and we choose love.”

Reach Madison Schofield at 413-930-4579 or mschofield@recorder.com.