Fact check: How many members does the 50501 movement currently have?

1. Summary of the results

The exact current membership of the 50501 movement is not directly stated in any of the sources. However, we can track its growth trajectory:

• Their first protest on February 5, 2025, involved 72,000 protesters across 67 protests in 40 states ^[1]
• By April 5, 2025, during their "Hands Off" protests, the movement claimed approximately 5.2 million participants across 1,200 locations nationwide ^[1]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual points need to be considered:

• The movement has set an ambitious target of reaching 11 million participants, which would represent approximately 3.5% of the US population ^[1]
• The initial numbers (72,000 protesters) were self-reported by the organization, which raises questions about verification ^[1]
• The movement has shown significant growth in just two months, from 72,000 to 5.2 million claimed participants ^[1]
• The geographic spread has expanded from 67 locations to 1,200 locations ^[1]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

Several potential sources of bias should be considered:

• The movement self-reports its numbers, which could lead to inflation of participation figures ^[1]
• The dramatic growth from 72,000 to 5.2 million participants in two months might need independent verification
• The movement benefits from presenting larger numbers to demonstrate its influence and momentum
• Media and opposing groups might have interest in either inflating or deflating these numbers depending on their stance toward the movement's goals

It's important to note that protest attendance numbers are often contested and can vary significantly depending on who is doing the counting.