Courtesy Sarah McConkie, Indivisible Utah County

A fairly new group in Utah County is rallying local citizens to amplify their voices in denouncing what they feel is government overreach and become engaged in local activism.

On Saturday, a coordinated wave of protests against President Donald Trump’s administration occurred across the country, including in Utah.

While thousands reportedly took to the steps of the Utah State Capitol in Salt Lake City for what’s being called the “50501” demonstrations — short for “50 protests, 50 states, one movement” — hundreds also gathered for the same cause outside of Provo City Hall on Saturday afternoon.

The Provo efforts were spearheaded by Indivisible Utah County, a local branch of the larger Indivisible Project, which is a national bipartisan nonprofit that says its mission is to “cultivate and lift up a grassroots movement of local groups to defeat the Trump agenda, elect progressive leaders, and realize bold progressive policies,” according to its website.

Indivisible Utah County was formed earlier this year by Eagle Mountain residents Sarah and Mark McConkie.

Courtesy Sarah McConkie, Indivisible Utah County

Sarah McConkie admitted that forming a group of activists and organizing a demonstration was something she had never done.

But she felt compelled to do so after seeking ways to voice her political concerns.

“I like the word indivisible from the Pledge of Allegiance — just the idea that you can have a lot of people who feel a lot of ways about different smaller issues but see things going on that they’re unhappy about and can still come together to speak up and say, ‘we don’t like this. We are not okay with this. We want things to change,'” Sarah McConkie said.

Demonstrations across the country involved protesters condemning what they describe as Trump’s executive overreach, including deportations without due process, the dismantling of federal agencies and threats to higher education, according to CNN.

Saturday formally marked Indivisible Utah County’s first of other future events.

McConkie said she had heard from others around the county who wanted to participate in various demonstrations without traveling to Salt Lake County.

“A lot of people want to do what they can do and speak up and do things like protest, but it’s just not always feasible to go to Salt Lake,” McConkie said. “You just can’t do that every Saturday, or you’ll burn out.”

She estimates around 500-600 people showed up with protest signs in tow and lined Center Street and 500 West on Saturday. Though counter protesters were also visible in the area, McConkie said she was pleased with the event overall and that it remained peaceful.

While she hopes the group will lead to more accessibility for local citizens to demonstrate, Provo, the city, has seen its fair share of recent protests.

Earlier this month, a 50501 demonstration in Provo was organized by a different group that took place on April 5.

As the Daily Herald reported in February, members of Mormon Women for Ethical Government gathered outside the Historic County Courthouse in Provo for a “quilt-in,” an effort to urge Utah’s federal lawmakers to uphold constitutional government.

The quilts were crafted with plans of being presented to Utah Sens. Mike Lee and John Curtis.

Provo resident Trisha Loveless attended both of the aforementioned events, among others, as well as Saturday’s demonstration.

Loveless says she is deeply concerned that the current administration is violating the Constitution, consolidating executive power and ignoring checks and balances.

She specifically noted the recent actions of the Department Of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, cuts to the  U.S. Agency for International Development, she also fears for public health services under the leadership of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

“I have an autistic child so I am horrified that RFK Jr. is directing HHS to treat autism like a plague on society while he spreads misinformation about vaccines and watches the measles outbreak continue to spread,” she told the Daily Herald on Monday. “I am disgusted that immigrants are being targeted, illegally detained.”

Kennedy has recently come under fire for comments he made at a recent press conference where he said the Department of Health and Human Services, or HHS, would investigate an “environmental toxin” that he believes is causing rising rates of autism spectrum disorder, The Hill reported.

Loveless also expressed concerns over attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion policies, Critical Race Theory and LGBTQ+ rights.

Loveless said her hope is to see local representatives challenge the Trump administration on what she feels are injustices. Until then, she plans to take every opportunity to make her voice heard.

“I cannot let my kids grow up and see what the world will become if I don’t,” she said. “I don’t want my kids to live under a fascist government. Even if we fail, my kids have to know that I tried, and that they can continue to try.”

As for McConkie, she hopes the group will continue to grow and have an impact in the community to help people use their voices and become more informed.

She also addressed what she felt could be a misconception about Saturday’s demonstration.

McConkie insisted that the protests are genuinely grassroots efforts and were organized by concerned locals from Utah County, not “paid protesters.”

“It really is just people in Provo in the surrounding area coming because they want to be there.”

The group 50501 has announced another nationwide day of protest on May 1, McConkie said it’s still up in the air if Indivisible Utah County will also plan an event for that day as well.

However, people who want to learn more about the group can visit indivisibleutahcounty.com.