On Saturday, thousands of demonstrators, primarily women, took to the streets of Washington, D.C., to protest against President-elect Donald Trump two days before his inauguration. This event, called the "People's March," formerly known as the "Women's March," has been held annually since 2017.
According to its website, a coalition of multiple groups organized the movement, with its explicit goal being to oppose "Trumpism." Simultaneously, smaller anti-Trump protests were held in New York City and Seattle on the West Coast. These gatherings coincided with Trump's arrival in the capital for a series of weekend events in preparation for Monday's inauguration.
Nevertheless, Saturday's "People's March" in Washington, D.C., was smaller than in previous years. Organizers had originally anticipated 50,000 participants, but the actual turnout was approximately 5,000 people. Protesters assembled in three parks before marching to the Lincoln Memorial for a rally. The organizing groups behind the march stated on their website that they hold "intersectional identities" and have "issue-based interests" such as climate change, immigration, and women's rights.
Organizers stated that they aimed to confront Trump by "drawing on past successes and effective tactics in confronting autocrats." On Saturday, a small group of Trump supporters gathered at the Washington Monument. A leader of the "People's March," noticing men wearing red "Make America Great Again" hats, approached with a megaphone, shouting, "No Trump, no KKK." One of the men, 58-year-old Timothy Wallis from Pocatello, Idaho, told the Associated Press that his friends had just bought the Trump hats from street vendors. Wallis stated that the "People's March" protesters were "absolutely within their rights" to demonstrate, but he was confused by the animosity. "It's a sad state of affairs in our country right now," he said.
The "People's March" first coalesced after Trump defeated Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in 2016. The day after Trump's first inauguration, women called for protests, and hundreds of thousands responded. The movement spread beyond the capital, with millions of women across the U.S. holding signs against the Republican president and wearing pink knitted "pussy hats"—a reference to Trump's boasts about grabbing women's genitals in a leaked tape. The "Women's March" has been a key part of the so-called resistance to Trump's agenda in the years since, but subsequent marches have not matched the scale of the initial one.
Meanwhile, Trump was scheduled to arrive in Washington, D.C., later on Saturday to begin his inaugural celebrations, including a private fireworks display at his own golf club in suburban Virginia. Women gathered in Washington for the "People's March" told the BBC that their motivations varied. One protester named Brooke said she wanted to express her support for abortion rights. "I'm really upset about the way our country voted," she said. "I'm really sad that our country is leaning toward a president that has already failed us once, and we didn't nominate a woman candidate." Another woman named Kayla said that complex emotions brought her to the capital's streets. "Honestly, I'm just angry, sad, overwhelmed," she said.
Susie traveled from the San Francisco area to join her sister Annie, who lives nearby, at the demonstration. They both participated in the "Women's March" after Trump's first inauguration and donned their "pussy hats" again. Susie recalled the massive crowds of 2017. She said she hopes people will still take to the streets to oppose Trump's policies. "The stakes are higher this time," she said. "Trump has become more emboldened. He has the billionaire class and the tech class bowing down to him." Annie also said she recognized that protesters are "out of touch" with many parts of America. Trump won all seven swing states and the electoral vote last November. But she added, "We're still here, and we're going to keep resisting."