Western Pa. residents flock to Pittsburgh to rally against Trump's policies
Trisha Kleckley traveled by bus almost two hours from her Beaver Falls home on Tuesday morning to get to Pittsburgh in time to be part of the city’s 50501 anti-President Donald Trump protest.
A pro-democracy and pro-human rights national movement, 50501 stands for 50 states, 50 protests, 1 movement. Pittsburgh’s demonstration was one of numerous planned protests across the country on March 4.
Over 100 people came out to protest during the lunch hour Tuesday, which is more than Meggin Ayers — the event’s organizer — was expecting. Only 27 had RSVP’d online.
“I was close to tears that the amount of people showed up,” she said.
LIVE: Two .5 shots of the 50501 protesters here in the heart of Downtown Pittsburgh @TribLIVE pic.twitter.com/MOY9HzSqmY
— Megan Swift (@mgswift7) March 4, 2025
The protest began in front of the William S. Moorhead Federal Building and marched down Liberty Avenue to Triangle Park in front of the Fairmont Hotel. Pittsburgh police were cooperative in blocking the roads so protesters could cross streets, said Ayers, 64, of Westmoreland County.
I’m here in front of the William S. Moorhead Federal Building in Pittsburgh — where a 50501: The People’s Movement protest is taking place in support of democracy and human rights.
Stay tuned with me for more live coverage @TribLIVE pic.twitter.com/NcmsG494gp
— Megan Swift (@mgswift7) March 4, 2025
We’re on the move in Downtown Pittsburgh — the protest has moved all the way down Liberty Avenue @TribLIVE pic.twitter.com/CiCcDTSYig
— Megan Swift (@mgswift7) March 4, 2025
Protesters have gathered on the green space in front of the Fairmont Hotel in Downtown Pittsburgh @TribLIVE pic.twitter.com/MPooXDeC3Y
— Megan Swift (@mgswift7) March 4, 2025
Ayers is part of the Pittsburgh-based arm of the national 50501 protest movement. A retired aircraft mechanic, she’s also a member of Our Sisters Keepers movement, which advocates for military sexual trauma survivors and non-survivors.
She was inspired to organize the protest after watching current events, especially the threat of taking benefits from the “most unprotected in our society.”
“This is too much — (it’s) tearing apart everything,” Ayers said. “This is just crazy; it’s gotta stop.”
Banding together
Deborah and Ray Beisel traveled from Cherryhill Township in Indiana County to protest in Downtown Pittsburgh Tuesday.
“I see that our democracy is in danger,” said Deborah Beisel, 65. “I’m concerned for the future of our country, for my kids and for people who can’t speak for themselves — for people who use Medicaid, who are (on) social security, who are disabled, our park workers.”
The couple heard about the 50501 protest by word of mouth, she said, despite residing in Beaver, a conservative county.
“I think people are beginning to see that it’s affecting everyone,” Deborah Beisel said. “It’s not politics; it’s our freedom that’s being attacked, so whether you’re Republican, independent or Democrat, everyone’s going to feel it.”
Her sign read “no more Elon, get out,” referencing billionaire Elon Musk’s hand in the Trump administration and close friendship with Trump himself.
“He doesn’t belong there — I didn’t vote for him,” Deborah Beisel said. “He’s not an elected person.”
The Beisel’s neighbors are mostly elderly people, and people on social security.
“There’s a lot of people who are going to be affected,” Deborah Beisel said. “It’s really encouraging to see that there are people like us who are concerned.”
Ray Beisel, 70, said they were active during the election in November, and the response during Tuesday’s protest was starkly different. He received lots of beeps and thumbs up from cars passing by.
“The mood is changing,” he said.
Anti-fascism signs in the crowd @TribLIVE pic.twitter.com/m5KhAOyAhU
— Megan Swift (@mgswift7) March 4, 2025
“This sequel sucks” sign at the protest — referencing the second @realDonaldTrump administration @TribLIVE pic.twitter.com/zmKGKPlOdl
— Megan Swift (@mgswift7) March 4, 2025
In November, Ray Beisel said the reactions to signage were more 50/50.
Chants of “lock him up” — referencing Trump — could be heard from Triangle Park during the event.
Chants of “lock him up” — referencing President Donald Trump — by protesters in the heart of Downtown Pittsburgh @TribLIVE pic.twitter.com/pdsZ4yvcnK
— Megan Swift (@mgswift7) March 4, 2025
“Every day, there’s a new reason to protest,” said Kleckley, 48. “The insanity that has been going on for the last four weeks is hard … it’s hard not to do something.”
She explained that her daughters are mixed-race. One has autism, and one is part of the queer community. She has been boycotting places that have dropped their DEI policies.
“I have a family full of different kinds of people, and I just won’t stand for it,” she said of Trump’s actions.
She said she also showed up because she’s pro-Ukraine, anti-fascist and anti-deportation.
Kleckley, who works as a caregiver, requested the day off since she knew the protest would be happening ahead of time.
“More people need to band together, but people just are going on with their everyday lives,” she said.
Megan Swift is a TribLive reporter covering trending news in Western Pennsylvania. A Murrysville native, she joined the Trib full time in 2023 after serving as editor-in-chief of The Daily Collegian at Penn State. She previously worked as a Jim Borden Scholarship intern at the Trib for three summers. She can be reached at mswift@triblive.com.
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