A small group of demonstrators gathered outside the Prince William County Judicial Center in Manassas on Friday afternoon to protest President Donald Trump’s alarming consolidation of executive power.
The protest, organized by Will Stewart of Indivisible NoVA West, drew about 10 attendees. The group selected the courthouse as a symbolic backdrop to highlight what they described as the judiciary’s critical role in holding the executive branch accountable.
“This was a local protest to spotlight how Trump has sidelined or removed officials and agencies meant to keep him in check â from military legal advisers to election watchdogs,” Stewart said in an email. “The Judicial Center represents one of the three pillars of government that is still pushing back.”
Stewart said his group plans to organize more demonstrations across Prince William County in the coming months and encourages others to get involved via their Facebook page.
But Fridayâs protest came as data shows growing support for Trump in the same community. In the November 2024 general election, Prince William County experienced a 3.7-point shift toward Republican candidates compared to the 2021 election, according to an analysis published by Virginia nonprofit Cardinal News.
Though Prince William remains a Democratic-leaning locality, the data suggests Republican turnout efforts outperformed expectations, especially in suburban areas where Democrats typically enjoy more substantial margins.
The protestors, however, focused less on polling data and more on policy decisions, accusing Trump of installing unqualified loyalists in key federal positions and dismantling independent oversight mechanisms.
In a lengthy statement, Stewart accused the administration of firing inspectors general, whistleblower investigators, and top military legal advisors, while weakening agencies like the Federal Election Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission.
âHis actions have effectively dismantled the guardrails of our democracy,â Stewart said.
While the groupâs turnout on Friday was modest â just four individuals were photographed outside the courthouse â Stewart attributed the low numbers to a technical glitch that prevented their rally notice from being widely shared.
In previous events held in Virginiaâs 10th Congressional District, Stewart said the group had drawn more than 60 people.
As the 2025 campaign season heats up, Prince William County may once again become a key battleground â not just at the ballot box, but on the sidewalks where protestors and political movements seek to sway public opinion.
Lateef addressed attendees at a town hall meeting on Thursday, February 27, 2024, at Battlefield High School near Haymarket, vowing to resist federal pressure to close the school divisionâs DEI office. His remarks were met with a standing ovation.
âTomorrow, [President Trump] has said that any school division that doesnât close their DEI office, weâll cut federal funding. Well folks, tomorrow we will proceed as usual and Iâll see him in court. Heâs coming after our immigrant kids. Youâre sitting in the 10th most diverse county in all of America. So when you come after our children on ICE raids, we will see you in court.â
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(The Center Square) â President Donald Trump voiced his support for repealing the District of Columbiaâs Home Rule Act, citing crime, homelessness and âgraffiti.â
The president framed the order as a defense of women's athletics against unfair competition, stating, "Under the Trump administration, we will defend the proud tradition of female athletes, and we will not allow men to beat up, injure, and cheat our women and our girls. From now on, womenâs sports will only be for women."
Merianne Jensen and her two daughters, Prince William County Public Schools students, attended the ceremony. Jensen emphasized the importance of the executive order, saying, "Being the mother of two daughters, their safety is the most important thing, and itâs important they are not put in physical danger playing against a male in sports."
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Amid heightened immigration enforcement under President Trump's executive orders, local communities are grappling with confusion and fear sparked by social media posts warning of ICE raids and undercover operations.
The president issued numerous Executive Orders, some of which reinforced the enforcement of U.S. immigration laws. In addition to targeted raids on known criminals across the country, the Trump administration has mobilized troops at the U.S.-Mexico border and reinstated the previous âRemain in Mexicoâ policy. This policy requires individuals seeking asylum to stay outside the U.S. while awaiting a decision on their applications.
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Supporters of Donald J. Trump gathered in Haymarket on January 20, 2025, to celebrate the inauguration of the 47th U.S. President at a watch party hosted by the Bull Run Republican Womenâs Club.
The sold-out event, held at Giuseppe's Ristorante Italiano, drew attendees from across Prince William County and as far away as Peru. Organized under the leadership of Carol Fox, the watch party was described as a joyous occasion that brought local Republicans together to celebrate and enjoy the historic moment.
âThe event was a chance to bring Republicans together and have fun watching the inauguration,â said Fox. Adding to the festivities, a dance contest to the tune of "YMCA" delighted guests, with prizes awarded for the most Trump-inspired dance moves. Proceeds from the event will support the Bull Run Republican Womenâs Clubâs college scholarship program.
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By Sarah Hagen and Andrew Kerley
VCU Capital News Service â Retired Falls Church handyman John Magill braved cold rain and snow, and a blocks-long line for the chance to see President Donald Trump speak at a rally ahead of his second inauguration.
Magill held a handwritten sign with the words: âTRUMP IS THE G.O.A.T.â â short for âgreatest of all time.â
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Today, Monday, January 20, 2025, marks Inauguration Day in the United States. Donald J. Trump is being sworn in as the 47th President, becoming the second individual after Grover Cleveland to serve non-consecutive presidential terms.
The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled at noon, with Chief Justice John Roberts administering the oath of office. Due to severe cold weather conditions, the event will be held in the Capitol Rotunda in Washington, D.C.
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President-Elect Donald Trump and Vice President-Elect JD Vance criticized the proposed plan in a statement released on Dec. 18 on X (formerly Twitter), where they said the deal had provisions that would hide records of the Capitol attack on January 6, 2021, and that the bill would give Congress a pay increase while Americans are âstruggling this Christmas.â
The 1,547-page continuing resolution was scrapped on December 18, hours before lawmakers approved the measure. The bill aimed to prevent a partial government shutdown and included a variety of allocations ranging from disaster relief to football stadium land:
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DOGE, a proposed federal agency designed to streamline government operations under incoming President-Elect Donald Trump, aims to enhance transparency and reduce bureaucratic inefficiencies. Specific focus areas include modernizing outdated IT systems, consolidating overlapping agency functions, and introducing advanced data analytics to improve decision-making processes.
Its primary focus is on evaluating and modernizing processes across federal departments to improve service delivery, optimize resource allocation, and eliminate redundancy. Specific targets include outdated systems and overlapping roles within federal agencies.
