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On Feb. 4, Smith, 60, a retired business owner in Edwardsville, felt compelled to do something. She made a few signs protesting billionaire Elon Musk鈥檚 role in slashing government agencies and mass firings of federal workers.

鈥淚 was watching things I care about being shuttered, and I could not take it anymore,鈥� she says. She drove to the city park around noon and stood on the sidewalk with her sign. It was freezing cold. Smith had never done anything like this before. She felt like a crazy person.

Then, a woman walking her dog stopped, thanked her and gave Smith a hug. The woman was a stranger, but she promised to return and stand with Smith.

Fifteen minutes later, the woman came back. They stood together for the next hour.

A few friends heard about Smith鈥檚 small act of resistance and decided to join them. The next Friday, 12 people showed up. Smith brought more signs.

David Vitoff, 69, was going to the Edwardsville library on President鈥檚 Day with his wife. They saw a bunch of people with signs outside. Smith always brings extra signs. Vitoff and his wife each grabbed one and joined the group.

鈥淲e were so frustrated with what鈥檚 been going on,鈥� Vitoff says. 鈥淭he checks and balances have been totally disregarded. 鈥� In my adult life, this is wholly unprecedented.鈥�

Each week, the protest attracted more people. Her spontaneous, impromptu protest had grown to nearly 300 people by March 28. Smith, who had been feeling isolated in her frustration, fear and anger, felt less alone.

鈥淪eeing other people speaking out gives people some hope, some courage,鈥� Vitoff says.

Various protests 鈥� national and local 鈥� are planned for this weekend. The grassroots Edwardsville group will continue to protest from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Fridays. The 50501 National protests against Project 2025, Trump and Musk will take place at all 50 state Capitols on Saturday. There鈥檚 a protest rally planned for Kiener Plaza, 500 Chestnut Street, from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday. A coalition of progressive groups are also organizing 鈥淗ands Off our Social Security, health care, public schools and democracy鈥� mobilization events in various cities.

On March 28, hundreds of people lined both sides of South Buchanan Street, across from a Massage Luxe and Wasabi sushi restaurant. They held signs representing a wide diversity of causes 鈥� protecting National Parks, the Constitution, Social Security, the federal workforce, LGBTQ rights, Ukraine, immigrants, universities, free speech, vaccines and federal funding for research. Some attacked the plan for tariffs and cuts to food programs to feed the hungry.

There was a party atmosphere among the crowd.

Classic rock played on the speakers, while protestors chanted 鈥淗ey, hey, ho, ho, Elon Musk has got to go!鈥� The majority of the cars driving by honked in support and gave thumbs to those on the streets. At least one gave them the middle finger.

Paul Pitts, an Air Force retiree who served on the Edwardsville school board from 2007 to 2019 and a retired administrator at SIUE, says he is worried about how all the federal cuts will affect vulnerable groups such as the disabled, the elderly, veterans, working-class people and children.

鈥淲hat鈥檚 more troubling is that President Trump and Elon Musk have no compassion for the rest of us,鈥� he said.

The demonstrations have been drawing people from five nearby counties, Smith says. An off-shoot of the Edwardsville group has started protesting in Alton on Sundays. Vitoff says he鈥檚 hopeful that the growing number of protestors will catch the attention of their local representatives. Some held signs directly addressing Reps. Mike Bost and Mary Miller, Republicans from Southern Illinois.

鈥淚t鈥檚 the height of insanity that the Republican National Committee tells duly elected representatives not to meet with their constituents,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 their job.鈥�

Last month, Republican party leaders, including Mike Johnson, the Republican House speaker, and Richard Hudson, the chair of the GOP鈥檚 fundraising body, told Republicans lawmakers to stop holding the public events because public confrontations with angry constituents could hurt them politically in the midterm elections.

Vitoff added that it will only take a handful of Republicans standing up for the separation of powers and checks and balances in the Constitution to safeguard democracy.

Many of the protesters were retirees and senior citizens. An older man walking by with a cane waved at those holding signs.

鈥淭his is great to see, so great to see,鈥� he says.