Where were you when you heard the news that Elon Musk “broke” into the U.S. Treasury? I was working and just beginning my first semester back in school. I thought surely, it isn’t that bad, is it? Then I began seeing the images. Then I began hearing more in regards to his actions. Countless data and precious information presumably stolen with the DOGE team bringing in their own hard-drives and servers with none of these individuals having been vetted for security purposes. Musk included. Congress was irrelevant and the President was complicit. Shortly thereafter, the first action coordinated nationwide by the newly formed organization 50501 was organized as a rallying cry. With just under 72 hours notice, people in every capital in every state voiced their anger on February 5, 2025.

As the Trump administration continued their unchecked power creep by disregarding Congress, ignoring court orders (and weaponizing the Attorney General’s office simultaneously), and violating citizen’s civil rights, the People continued to voice their frustration. The People began uniting under one banner not as a democrat, republican, or independent, but as AMERICANS. I soon found myself inspired by these very people. But, yet, where was the media??? I noticed, in the beginning, that I was the only photographer there for more than 5 minutes. What soon followed after I documented the first protest on February 5th, was a passion to continue. Not just because of my own interests, but out of necessity. Someone needed to document this movement with INTEGRITY. So I figured, it might as well be up to me.