Actions taken in the early days of the Trump administration inspired multiple protests in downtown Anchorage at midday Wednesday. Signs and chants opposed the rush of changes being pushed by President Donald Trump, with particular ire directed at tech CEO Elon Musk, who is attempting to dramatically cut federal spending, an initiative under what Musk has dubbed the Department of Government Efficiency.
A coalition of activist groups calling itself Action Alaska led a rally on L Street in front of the building that houses offices for U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan. The event was meant “to vote against unqualified Trump nominees, prevent the dismantling of the Department of Justice, and use their legislative power to stop Elon Musk’s takeover of the Treasury Department,” according to a news release.
Erin Jackson-Hill, executive director of Stand Up Alaska, said she was moved to speak out for reasons including Trump’s cabinet nominees and immigration enforcement tactics, but the dozens of people who gathered had many different reasons.
“People are scared for a myriad of reasons. People are angry for a myriad of reasons. And it’s all coming at us so fast, intentionally,” she said. Around her, about 75 people held signs and chanted “stop the coup.”
A few blocks away, Sue Nichols, of Anchorage, stood alone on a corner along the Delaney Park Strip. She held a small “for sale” sign and shouted toward passing traffic, “Elon Musk has your social security number.” The comment was an apparent reference to Musk’s access to the U.S. Treasury payment system.
[Protesters in cities across the U.S. rally against Trump’s policies, Project 2025 and Elon Musk]
About 50 people lined the walkway in front the National Park Service building on Fifth Avenue. Cameron Sanders, who said he spent 13 years working for the Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service, said he wanted to project encouragement to the people who work there now.
“I’m outraged at how both federal employees across the board are being targeted,” he said.
Sanders spread word of the protest on social media networks Bluesky and Reddit. “I thought I was just going to be one guy with a sign on the street,” he said.
