The banners are inventive. They cover a wide range of issues. “Ban guns not abortions”; “Trump belongs in a jailhouse, not the White House”; “Trans Lives Matter”; “Broligarchy”.
“I’ve seen better cabinet picks in Ikea”.
But the mood in Washington at what’s been billed “the People’s March” is relatively muted, more a mood of resignation than rage.
“Resistance is resilience” read the illuminated banners around the speakers’ stage, set up in front of the Lincoln Memorial. An acknowledgement that if you feel, as those out today do, that a second Trump presidency will turn the clock back on civil rights, reproductive rights, gender freedoms, on defence of the climate, rights for immigrants and the sanctity of American justice, the next four years will be a long haul.
Because Donald Trump is back. There’s not much they can do about it.
“Our audience is never Donald Trump,” says Tamika Middleton, one of the march’s organisers. “I think he pays attention because he wants to compare, you know, the ego of it all. But our audience is everyday folks who are looking for something to believe in, who are looking for people to connect to.”
That’s certainly what Alan, a Vietnam veteran we meet in the crowds, tells me. “It feels exhilarating, I’m just so thankful to be here. The feeling of solidarity. The feeling that you’re not alone, sitting at home, looking ahead to the next four years.”
The slogans have moved on from the original Women’s March in 2017, when half a million people took to the streets of Washington DC to protest Donald Trump’s first Presidency. There is now more “fight the oligarchy”, than “fight the patriarchy”. Trump and Elon Musk’s bromance gets plenty of mentions. “Trump (f)elon”, reads one banner.
“You can’t spell felon without Elon,” says Lilly who’s holding it.
“When I saw the exit polls, everybody was talking about the economy,” she continues. “But this man that they elected doesn’t care. He’s not affected by the economy. You know, he has all the oligarchs. He has all the wealthiest 1% support. And he can’t relate to the normal people. He really can’t.”
Discover more from MEZIESBLOG
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.