Several thousand protesters, predominantly women, gathered in Washington, D.C. on Saturday to demonstrate against the upcoming second inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump. While significant, the turnout was considerably smaller than the 2017 Women's March, which drew an estimated half a million participants.
This year's demonstrations, collectively termed the "People's March," were spread across three locations in the city, each focusing on different progressive causes. A morning event in Franklin Park emphasized gender justice and reproductive rights, followed by a march downtown culminating at the Lincoln Memorial for the main demonstration.
Speakers at the Franklin Park event, like Mini Timmaraju from the advocacy group Reproductive Freedom for All, emphasized the importance of unity and resistance in the face of what they described as impending "horrible extremism."
Other protest locations near the White House highlighted issues such as democracy, immigration, and local D.C. concerns. Vendors sold merchandise reflecting the various causes, including buttons with slogans like #MeToo and "Love trumps hate," along with People's March flags.
Participants traveled from across the country to voice their concerns. One protester, Lillian Fenske, drove six hours from North Carolina, carrying signs that read "America is not for sale" and "Divided We Fall," reflecting anxieties about political division and influence.
Despite a substantial police presence, authorities did not anticipate the level of violence and property damage that occurred during the 2017 inauguration protests.
The diminished turnout compared to 2017 suggests a possible decrease in energy within the anti-Trump resistance movement, with some progressive voters expressing feelings of fatigue and disillusionment following Trump's decisive re-election victory over Vice President Kamala Harris.
President-elect Trump is expected to arrive in Washington later Saturday. His pre-inauguration schedule includes a private reception and fireworks show at his golf club in Virginia on Saturday evening, a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery and a "Make America Great Again" rally on Sunday, and the official swearing-in ceremony with Vice President-elect JD Vance on Monday, which will be held indoors due to anticipated cold weather.
