Shout Out from the Sidewalk
Protesters gathered on street corners across the Washington County on Saturday, waving signs and chanting in protest of various controversial issues related to President Donald Trump’s administration. The protest, organized by Together Works Southern Utah — a grassroots initiative formed just weeks ago — aimed to mobilize the community to take action against state and federal policies.
Jill Stevens, one of the founders of Together Works, holds a Ph.D. in social work and previously worked in organizing protests and activism in New York City. Originally from Cedar City, Stevens was inspired to take action after attending a protest organized by 50501.
50501 is a political movement that organizes protests against the Trump Administration's policies. Its name means, "50 protests, 50 states, 1 movement," according to its website.Stevens estimated that 80 people signed up for the most recent protest.“I just kept sitting back feeling overwhelmed by everything that's going on at the federal level," she said. "If 50501 gets another organizer, that's great, but we're going to go ahead and organize ourselves.
”On the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Dixie Drive, protester Lysa McCarroll said that people need to know that action is being taken.“What we're doing is showing our frustration and anger about what's happening,” McCarroll said. “If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention. And I think we are paying attention.
Together Works' efforts are not just focused on national issues but also on local and state-level concerns. The group’s goal is to unite residents from all political affiliations, including Republicans, Democrats and independents, against the current political climate. In their first protest the previous weekend, the group aimed to raise awareness of key controversial issues, with an estimated 100 people showing up to demonstrate.
“We're not looking to align with national organizations because their focus is primarily federal,” Stevens said. “We want the flexibility to work on local and state issues as well. That’s why we started the ‘Shout Out from the Sidewalks’ initiative, which targets visibility and encourages others to share their dissatisfaction with the current political climate.
”Protester Barb Gillespie shared her motivation for attending the protest.“I'm here because I'm scared for my grandchildren and my children, and I have to tell them I'm doing what I can to stop this,” Gillespie said.
On the intersection of Bluff Street and St. George Boulevard, protester Tanya Emrit shared her concerns about national figures and hopes the protests would raise awareness and lead to change.“We’re here today because we’re generally upset about the things that Trump has been doing and the things that Elon Musk has been doing,” Emrit said. “They have been breaking apart our constitution.”
Wearing a red cowboy hat and holding a sign that read “STOP Oligarchy Tour,” protester Pat Pfeiffer had similar concerns.“I am totally against Donald Trump and Elon Musk trying to crash our democracy and sell off its parts to billionaires," Pfeiffer said. "I wanted everybody to know cowgirls are also against Elon Musk and Trump.”
Stevens said the organization plans to host more gatherings, such as a future meet-and-greet event to build cohesion among their members.“We have so many people who want to be involved in organizing,” Stevens said. “We want to plug people in according to their strengths and what they can contribute to the group as a whole.”
The protest was organized by Together Works Southern Utah — a grassroots initiative formed just three weeks ago, St. George, Utah, March 15, 2025.
In addition to organizing protests and events, Together Works Southern Utah is also working on formalizing its structure. The group is applying for 501(c)(3) status, which would allow them to operate as a nonprofit organization.
They’ve launched a website and are building their presence on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and BlueSky.“We don’t want to cause problems within our communities. We really just want to build awareness,” Stevens said
