​Trump's '100 Days in Office' evokes national protests

By Timothy Cox

For Westminster PATCH

WESTMINSTER, MD -- A large contingent of Baby Boomers mixed with Gen Xers gathered at the entrance of the main Carroll County Government Complex Thursday, May 1 during what organizers dubbed as National Workers’ Rights Day.

Incidentally, the rally was also held two days after President Donald Trump celebrated his second-time administration's 'First 100 Days in Office.'

The mid-afternoon protest, sponsored by a group called Indivisible Carroll County, showed their overall disapproval with the newest Trump administration, while shining a light on the growing numbers of Americans who are collectively disillusioned with the administrations’ policy changes, including Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) elimination of federal and contracting jobs, in addition to Trump’s exorbitant numbers of Executive Orders to abruptly dismantle and transform long-standing federal government status-quo policies, rules and regulations – especially those impacting good-paying government jobs for a middle-class workforce.

The Indivisible Carroll County contingent is also part of a national organization known as the "50/51 movement," according to protest co-organizer Jackie Wynne of Sykesville.

Wynne, along with co-leads Cori Hayunga and Jessica Baird, are in-concert with the national grassroots political organization (50/51) that emerged in opposition to the actions of the first Trump administration, in 2017, said Wynne.

About 200 protesters joined ranks in front of the government complex located just minutes off Maryland State Route 140, the busy four-lane highway that depicts Westminster's primary commercial retail and commercial zone.

The movement's 50/51 slogan aligns with "50 protests, 50 states, 1 movement," and reflects their goal of organizing nationwide protests specifically against Trump administration policies, many that closely reflect the controversial Project 2025 GOP plan that became public prior to Trump's second term startup on January 20, 2025.

The movement’s core focus is to organize workers and protest against newly established government policies, said Ms. Hayunga, a married mother of a five-year-old daughter. Her husband, Robbie Hayunga, also 35, is 100-percent in support of our actions, Ms. Hayunga said. Her husband was seen chanting rally cries via a megaphone as the throng cheered when drivers honked horns in their support.

“Not everyone has been positive,” said Wynne. “We’ve also gotten some expletive-type gestures along with supportive ones," she admitted.

A trio of retired grandmothers from northeastern Carroll County carried anti-Trump administration signage and gathered along the front steps of the government complex, to display their displeasure with the current President and what they described as his billionaire friends.

Manchester residents Pat Pearson, 82 and Connie Rooney, 78, joined their Lineboro, Md. neighbor, Karen Schultz, to stand against what Pearson called the disintegration of the “rule of law.”

“We’re here for our grandchildren's future,” said Pearson – a sentiment shared by organizer Jackie Wynne.

“I fear my children won’t have the same freedoms that we had during my generation and in previous years,” said Wynne, 35, a registered nurse and married mother of three.

Autumn Canter, 42 of Reisterstown in Baltimore County, brought her 14-year-old daughter, Sage, to experience the protest. “I intentionally came out to Carroll County because I wasn't ready for the downtown Baltimore scene. This feels more comfortable," she said.

Canter continued, "I’m the daughter of a hippie and I believe that saying nothing (about the Trump administration) is a form of consent.” Canter is also a volunteer Humane Society official in Baltimore County. She said she learned of the Carroll County protest by accessing the 50/51 website that lists protest locations and sites, nationwide.

According to the 50/51 website, more than 70,000 protests occurred throughout the United States during the May Day rallies.

Deborah Childress, 66, said she learned of the protest via Facebook. “I disagree with getting rid of all the (government) oversight personnel. Then, he gives our secret documents to his overseas and foreign government contacts. I feel his first 100 days have been fraudulent,” said the self-employed website designer.

Hamstead resident, Deanna Kopf, 56 is a self-employed mid-wife, who took time away from her duties to partake in the rally.

Why?

"Because I'm fighting for democracy," she said. "I don't agree with any of Trump's policies since he's taken over. He's not interested in the people - only his rich billionaire friends."

Wynne said her group previously sponsored a successful rally on Saturday, April 5 on Westminster's Main Street across from the Carroll County Library. "We attracted about 800 people that day," she said. "Weekends can make a difference in participation numbers," she said.

Notedly, there was no significant presence of pro-Trump supporters, or anti-protest individuals. A small group of Carroll County Sheriff's Office deputies stood nearby in case of any disturbance.

Indivisible Carroll County's next protest is set for Saturday, June 14 in either Sykesville or Westminster. The upcoming protest will counteract the proposed Donald Trump birthday celebration in DC, Wynne said.

For more information on future rallies and about Indivisible Carroll County, access their email at indivisibleccmd@proton.me.

(ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Reach Timothy Cox at teacawks2@gmail.com. Mr. Cox is a veteran journalist and has contributed to the Gannett corporation in Augusta, Georgia and Pittsburgh, Pa.; Scripps-Howard with Knoxville News-Sentinel, Knoxville, Tennessee; and several publications in Baltimore, Washington, DC., Atlanta and Pittsburgh.)