The demonstration is part of “50501,” which stands for 50 protests, 50 states, one movement. It's a national group of grassroots organizers.
Army veteran Bill Gray, who lives in Jackson, says he wanted to speak out against cuts occurring across the federal workforce.
“As a veteran, I've got a lot of friends whose second careers were working for the government,” he said. “It's not uncommon. It's not just at the VA. They work in all sectors of government. I think 3,000 plus have already lost their jobs. So it's not a good thing for the country.”
Gray believes the changes in the federal government are happening too fast.
“You can't go in with a fire hose and an ax and reduce these agencies that have been built over time,” he said. “Are they perfect? No. Is there some waste? Are there efficiencies to be found? Yes, but this is not the way to do it.”
Gray says severe damage to federal agencies has already been done and thinks it may prove difficult to put back together even if changes stop.
“The Trump, Vance, Musk team are breaking things,” he said. “We're losing our democracy, and we can't be on the side of Putin.”
Jackson resident Mario Henderson, who uses a wheelchair, says he's been concerned about the freeze on federal loans and grants.
“Those of us who are out working for nonprofits, who are still trying to support other individuals with disabilities just to live,” he said. “We need those federal dollars and you're freezing and you're taking away from us.”
Kathleen O’Beirne from Ridgeland says tax cut extensions from President Trump's first term could potentially cause some programs such as Medicaid to be cut.
“Cuts to Medicaid are going to mean that folks who live in rural communities in Mississippi, who need to get to Jackson or to the nearest town for medical care, are going to be stranded because Medicaid currently pays for their transportation,” she said.
O'Beirne was also concerned about how the fate of Ukraine may impact the United States after President Trump’s contentious meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“It's so distressing and disturbing,” she said. “Completely un-American. What is it going to mean specifically for Mississippi? I don't know, but it's not going to be good. It's not going to mean anything good for Mississippians for the United States to align itself with Russia and Putin.”
