ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Thousands of people took part in protests across the country on Saturday as part of 50501 movement.

What You Need To Know

  • Thousands across the U.S. joined the 50501 movement to protest what demonstrators say are anti-democratic policies

  • Kim Wittmer, attending her second protest, wants to be a role model for her granddaughters

  • On the topic of deportation efforts, Florida GOP Chair Evan Powers says: "Temporary status was always supposed to be that – temporary"

These protests cover a large range of topics. They’re aiming to raise awareness about what they call anti-democratic policies in the United States. 

One of those protests was held in St. Petersburg at Williams Park. 

Kim Wittmer was among the hundreds of people protesting. 

“I feel like this is just a unique time in our history and it’s important to get our voice heard,” she said. 

This is the second protest Wittmer has been to this month.

Looking back a few years ago, she said it’s not something she would attend. 

“I’ve never really done this before,” she said. “I’m like, oh my gosh, I do not like the way things are going. Silence is being complicit and I don’t want to be complicit.”

Wittmer wants to be a role model for her granddaughters. 

She hopes they see her and everyone protesting and can be inspired to stand up for what they believe in. 

“It’s time to take a stand,” she said.

Spectrum News reached out to various Republican groups about protests criticizing the White House’s deportation efforts.

Evan Power, the Chair of the Republican Party of Florida, said, “Judges should not set immigration policy. The president and Congress should. Temporary status was always supposed to be that – temporary. As we learned after Florida imposed new laws to prevent illegal immigrants from working, we saw not real impact to our labor force.”