Fact check: Does 50501 call the police at their protests

1. Summary of the results

The evidence regarding whether 50501 calls the police at their protests presents conflicting information with sources providing contradictory claims.

Evidence supporting police cooperation:

• Utah 50501 explicitly stated they were "working with the police" in their Facebook post during the Salt Lake City "No Kings" protest ^[1]
• One source claims that "some local 50501 organizers have called the police on people at their own rallies" and that "50501 works with cops" ^[2]

Evidence against police cooperation:

• A direct contradiction appears in another source stating that "50501 has zero ties to the cops" and that "registering protests with cities is being misinterpreted as collaboration with police" ^[3]

Neutral/unclear evidence:

• Multiple sources mention 50501's commitment to nonviolent action and that organizers urged participants to "de-escalate any confrontation," which could imply potential cooperation with law enforcement but doesn't explicitly confirm police coordination ^[4]
• Sources note that organizers ask attendees not to bring weapons and mention safety teams, but don't directly address police involvement ^[5]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks several crucial pieces of context:

• Geographic variation: The evidence suggests different 50501 chapters may have varying relationships with police - Utah 50501 explicitly mentioned working with police ^[1], while other sources suggest this isn't universal across all chapters
• Legal requirements vs. cooperation: There's an important distinction between mandatory protest registration with cities and voluntary police collaboration that the original question doesn't address ^[3]
• Recent tragic context: The question emerges following a fatal shooting at a Salt Lake City "No Kings" protest where an "innocent bystander" was killed by "peacekeepers" during the demonstration ^[6], which may influence current discussions about police involvement
• Safety protocols: 50501 appears to have internal safety teams and peacekeepers rather than relying solely on police, though the effectiveness of these measures has been questioned following recent events ^[5]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question appears neutral in its phrasing but may be influenced by recent controversial events. However, several biases could affect interpretations:

• Timing bias: The question follows immediately after a fatal incident at a 50501 protest, which could be driving increased scrutiny of the organization's security practices and police relationships ^[6]
• Oversimplification: The question treats "50501" as a monolithic organization when evidence suggests different local chapters may have varying approaches to police cooperation ^{[1] [3]}
• False binary: The question implies a simple yes/no answer when the reality appears more nuanced, involving legal requirements, safety protocols, and varying local practices across different 50501 chapters

The contradictory nature of the sources themselves suggests this topic is currently disputed within activist communities, with some defending 50501's practices while others criticize them for police cooperation.