Hundreds gather in Wenatchee to participate in nationwide Presidents Day Protest

WENATCHEE – An estimated 300 people gathered at Memorial Park on Presidents Day to protest the significant changes implemented in the federal government by President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk.

The protest was part of a nationwide demonstration organized under the 50501 Movement, which stands for “50 protests. 50 States. 1 movement.” The protest was organized in order to “uphold the Constitution and end executive overreach,” according to the group’s website. Wenatchee’s demonstration brought in protestors from all over North Central Washington, including Winthrop, Leavenworth, and Malaga.

“I hope that more people realize that it's okay and it's safe to come out and speak out. That's one of our first and foremost constitutional rights to peacefully assemble and protest,” said demonstrator Elizabeth Kazemba. “And in order to create better future citizens, they need to be educated of those rights and demonstrate them.”

Kazemba attended the demonstration with her fifth-grade son and two parents. As a Fourth Grade teacher, Kazemba was compelled to advocate for her students, who have been affected by the current administration’s rhetoric and directives with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

“I have had students come to school and said, ‘I'm scared that one or both of their parents are going to be deported,’” said Kazemba. “When the questions do come up, it's hard to answer. And it's hard for anyone to answer.”

Many demonstrators also came out to protest the firing of over 200,000 federal workers under the direction of the White House and its Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

“I feel like just the people I know are really suffering, and we're basically on a standstill in academia right now, in science,” said demonstrator Molly Sayles. “Even though we're not federal employees, everything we're doing is funded by federal grants or in collaboration with federal employees.”

Sayles, a Wenatchee-based entomologist obtaining her Ph.D at Washington State University, works with farmers in the valley on implementing affordable and sustainable pest control. In addition to watching her federal partners lose their jobs, Sayles’s project funding has been frozen since January.

“We were applying for a grant to continue this project we're doing, and they took away the deadline, so we can't apply for it anymore. So there's no more money. The grant agencies told us to stop spending our money,” said Sayles.

Jeff Graham, a realty specialist who has worked for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for 17 years, came out from Malaga in support of employees fired from the Forest Service, a fellow public land management agency. While his office had been spared at the time of the protest, Graham says he and his colleagues have been waiting for more information, and anticipating terminations. 

“I hope people realize it is affecting us. I don’t care who you voted for as Americans. It’s public lands, it’s your fellow Americans. We are people. Who’s America being great for?” said Graham. “You’re taking workers out. I mean, we’ve got families here. You’re taking our income, our salary. Not only that, you’re taking what we do for our community. We protect our public lands.”

Taylor Caldwell: 509-433-7276 or taylor@ward.media