18-02-2025
Northwest Arkansas residents gather for National Day of Protest
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Hundreds of Northwest Arkansas residents gathered at the Washington County courthouse to protest against recent decisions made by President Donald Trump's administration.
'There's not one specific issue that we're protesting. We are protesting a president who is dismantling the fundamental policies that make a democracy a democracy,' says Casey Cromer, one of the protest organizers.
This protest was part of the 50501 Movement, which stands for '50 states, 50 protests, one day.'
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'This national protest is a call to restore our democracy and protect the rights of every individual. The current administration has shown it is willing to strip away vital protections for the most vulnerable in our society, and we refuse to sit quietly while this happens,' said For AR People founding director Gennie Diaz in a press release.
Residents also stated their opposition to bills being discussed in the Arkansas legislature, including Senate Bill 91, which if passed, would ban city governments from capping rent, rental application fees, and rental deposits.
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Organizers say that this protest was meant to unite the community and encourage residents to be more active in local organizations 'that are helping Arkansas become better,' and to be active in future elections.
'That is the biggest thing that we can work on to really cause the change that we need to see. We need people to be educated and show up to vote,' says Erin Killeen, who also helped organize the event.
Cromer believes that citizens should 'get plugged in and make a difference wherever they can in our community because we know that power starts locally, for it to affect anything nationally.'
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