 "People attend the \"People's March on Washington\" ahead of the presidential inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. Reuters")
Several thousand demonstrators, predominantly women, gathered in Washington on Saturday (January 18) to protest President-elect Donald Trump’s upcoming inauguration.
The event marked a smaller yet spirited echo of the massive protests during Trump’s first inauguration in 2017, where many were seen wearing pink caps. This time around, too, many participants wore the iconic “pussyhats” from the earlier movement.
Calls for gender justice, bodily autonomy
Protesters assembled at three starting locations near the White House as part of the “People’s March,” which focused on gender justice, democracy, immigration, and local issues. In Franklin Park, participants rallied in light rain, holding signs advocating for reproductive rights and equality.
“It’s really healing to be here with all of you today in solidarity and togetherness, in the face of what’s going to be some really horrible extremism,” said Mini Timmaraju, head of the advocacy group Reproductive Freedom for All, addressing the crowd.
Timmaraju said the good news was that abortion rights remain popular despite Trump’s win, leading a chant of “We are the majority!”
A fractured movement
Saturday’s protests, though vibrant, were smaller than those in 2017, reflecting fractures within the women’s rights movement following Trump’s defeat of Vice President Kamala Harris in November’s election. Trump, who won all seven battleground states and the popular vote, is set to take office on Monday (January 20).
Still, the event brought together reproductive rights groups, civil rights organisations, environmental advocates, and other women-focused groups in opposition to Trump’s agenda. The march concluded with a final gathering at the Lincoln Memorial.
Throughout the rally, demonstrators carrying signs with messages like “Feminists v. Fascists” and “People over politics” were visible. Vendors were seen selling buttons with slogans such as #MeToo and “Love trumps hate,” alongside flags for the march.
Police cars, with sirens on, drove between the kickoff locations.
With inputs from agencies