‘I actually got tears in my eyes’: Hundred’s flood Beaufort County in rebuke of Trump
Nancy Wilbraham’s jaw dropped as she drove through the intersection of Folly Field Road and U.S. 278 on Hilton Head Island. Lining both sides of the street were hundreds of people waving signs and chanting in protest against President Donald Trump — the largest demonstration she’d ever seen in her 43 years living in the county.
“I actually got tears in my eyes,” Wilbraham said, a 68-year-old Uber driver who’s called the Lowcountry home since 1982. She was mid-shift, on the phone with her sister, when she pulled over and joined the crowd. Someone handed her a sign, and just like that, she was part of it.
On Saturday, over a thousand people rallied across Beaufort County as part of the nationwide 50501 movement, a wave of demonstrations across all 50 states, protesting what organizers have called anti-democratic and unlawful actions by Trump and his administration. The turnout was especially striking in the county — a longtime Republican stronghold in a red state — where protests of this size, according to residents, are rare. In 2024, Trump won 56.6% of the county’s vote compared to 42.1% for Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.
Four protests were held in the county, varying in size but united in purpose. Different groups organized rallies in Hilton Head Island, Bluffton and Beaufort — each drawing more than 600 participants — while the Okatie rally saw over 50 people. It is not clear at this time exactly how many people joined each rally; while organizers shared their approximations, local law enforcement was not able to confirm them.
All were in support of the same national movement calling for action in defense of democracy.
More than 1,100 rallies and events were scheduled in all 50 states as of Wednesday afternoon, according to an analysis from Axios. This included more than 500,000 individual RSVPs.
‘How much are your eggs’
“Wake up,” “When injustice becomes law resistance becomes duty,” “How much are your eggs” and “Do you care about your grandkids” — these were just a few of the hand-painted messages held high by demonstrators lining the streets. Protesters came from across Beaufort County and beyond, with tourists from other states joining residents in solidarity. Many told organizers they hadn’t planned to protest that day but when walking by, they stayed.
The sound of car’s honking in support rang out — adding to the momentum — with few passersby signaling their disapproval.
Many gathered to rally against several of Trump’s administrative policies, including its handling of Social Security benefits, layoffs across the federal workforce and the reduction of consumer protections, along with concerns over other social protections.
“I’m truly scared for democracy,” said Bernie Scolaro, a Beaufort County resident who attended the Bluffton rally. “I really am. It’s real, it’s a real threat right now.”
“The concern is the cruelty and the callousness,” said Rita Conrad, the vice chair of Lowcountry Indivisible. “They’re affecting people’s lives and livelihoods in a way that just is really unnecessary.”
“People are concerned. We’re upset. We’re scared,” said Joanne Chludzinski, a member of Liberal Ladies of the Lowcountry and Beaufort County Democratic Party. “We’re scared of what’s going on.”
Unexpected numbers take to the street
Kristin Jones and Julia Stefanini, chair and member of the Liberal Ladies of the Lowcountry’s recently-formed Social Action Committee, were blown away by the number of people who attended the rally they planned for Hilton Head.
The event was held on the heavily-trafficked William Hilton Parkway and Folly Field Road.
They described the protest as incredibly successful, drawing over 600 people — far more than the 200 they had initially expected. Attendees included local residents, tourists and people from various states like Colorado, Texas and Arizona.
Bob Bromage, the town’s director of public safety, said that the demonstration was the largest protest he had seen in the county in years.
The crowd was diverse, with participants ranging from an 80-year-old first-time protester to vacationers and local residents. Many did not sign up for the protest, but just simply pulled over their cars to join in, the women said.
“It was one of the most inspiring days of my life,” Jones said. “Truly, I was so excited that so many people care.”
Were the local demonstrations approved?
According to local ordinances, public events in Beaufort and Hilton Head that attract more than 50 and 250 people, respectively, are required to have a permit.
Angie Stone, assistant town manager of Hilton Head, said that the organizers did not apply for a special events permit through the town since they anticipated having less than 250 participants. They did however obtain permission from the South Carolina Department of Transportation to gather along William Hilton Parkway.
Bromage said the event was peaceful with no safety issues. He did say that in the future, organizers should obtain a special events permit for events with large turnouts.
Public assemblies held on county property do not require a permit, said Beaufort County spokesperson Hannah Nichols.
Spokesperson for the city of Beaufort, Ashley Brandon, said that as of Thursday, the city had not received an application for the planned rally held on Saturday. This required the city’s police department to keep an eye on the demonstration to ensure there were no safety threats or traffic barriers.
Master Sgt. Danny Allen of the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office said that there were no major violations during the protests held on Saturday, and that specifically no arrests were made. He did say, however, that there were some safety concerns regarding the protests that were held on highly-trafficked roads.
When asked if he was aware of any counter protests over the weekend, Beaufort County GOP Chair Kevin Hennelly said that there were not.
This story was originally published April 7, 2025 at 1:09 PM.
