Two days before President Donald Trump took office as the 47th president of the United States, thousands of protestors from across the nation marched from Farragut Square to the Lincoln Memorial at the People’s March on Jan. 18.
The march began at three distinct locations — Farragut Square, McPherson Square and Franklin Park — at 10 a.m. Each kickoff point focused on different issues before joining together to finish the path to the Lincoln Memorial. Farragut Square focused on democracy, immigration, anti-militarism and climate. McPherson Square focused on local D.C. issues. Franklin Park focused on bodily autonomy, gender justice and LGBTQ+ issues.
The event, which began as the Women’s March in 2017 ahead of Trump’s first term, rebranded this year as the People’s March. In an interview with NPR, People’s March organizer Tamika Middleton said the change intended to make the march more inclusive of other issues affecting Americans that were not initially highlighted in the first Women’s March.
Attendees cited “standing up for democracy,” LGBTQ+ rights and climate change as some of the main reasons that motivated them to march. Just as motivations for marching varied, so did hometowns: from Canada to Arizona to Chicago.
Laurie Spate-Smith has dual citizenship in Canada and the United States, and she described herself and “all Canadians” as “pretty offended by [the United States’] latest election.”
“The first thing that comes to mind is fear for the American people,” Spate-Smith said when asked what a second Trump presidency meant for her and fellow Canadians.
Prior to taking office, Trump suggested he would utilize “economic force” to acquire Canada in addition to using military force to gain control of the Panama Canal and Greenland.
“I don't think Americans understand how offensive it is to have your sovereignty questioned, because that will never happen to Americans,” Spate-Smith said. “It’s fucking un-American.”
Lee Drinkwater and Steve Bonnit, a brother-sister duo from Maryland, also expressed concern about Trump’s role on the international stage.
Bonnit described Trump’s presidency as inevitably having a global impact, while Drinkwater specifically feared Trump’s effect on the Russia-Ukraine War.
“I just have tons of fear about what is about to happen,” Drinkwater said. “There’s a lot of fear that as soon as Trump gets in, all support is going to be taken.”
To Bonnit, a new Trump presidency fundamentally shifted the message of the People’s March.
“The Women’s March was a protest. He lost the popular vote,” Bonnit said. “He won this time, so it’s not so much a protest, but a call to action.”
A similar calling brought Cathie Rubins from Arizona to D.C. Rubins said she protested to stand up for what is right.
“I’m patriotic, and I am sad our country doesn’t represent what it used to,” Rubins said.
Rubins described a sense of individualism sweeping the country and said she feared for younger generations and the implications this new philosophy may carry. Despite these concerns, Rubins said the People’s March represented those working to uphold democracy.
“There’s a lot of people who believe in democracy,” Rubins said. “There are a lot of people who don’t think what is happening in this country is right.”
Students from American University attended the march together and expressed appreciation for the community both at the march and on campus.
“It’s good because you know, it’s a really shitty time to be frank with you. And I think as a community, AU, it’s a few thousand people, but I think together, we can do a lot of change,” said Katie Cowen, a senior in the School of International Service. “I think it’s nice that people from all different groups across campus are coming here and making us strong, too, because in a vulnerable time like this, I think we really need that.”
But not all college students have the same campus culture as AU — students at schools such as Penn State shared more negative experiences.
“Personally, at Penn State, I think it’s very divided,” Siena Cervino said. “I don’t have this type of community. There is some, but it’s a very divided campus. So just being with more people of the same beliefs is really heartwarming for me.”
Attendees expressed frustration for needing to march again, but still were grateful for the turnout. Thousands came together holding up banners as units, drowning out the rantings of counterprotesters with chants and supporting speakers as they shared sensitive stories.
“I think it’s just visibility,” said Virginia Lee, a march volunteer from Chicago. “We’re here for each other and to show people across the country that they’re not alone.”
It is crucial for Ava Wegmann-Gatarz, a freshman in the School of Public Affairs, to continue to battle against hate.
“The fight is not over,” Wegmann-Gatarz said. “I think that despite losing this election and struggling with hate and discord in this country, we understand that our fellow citizens and our brothers, sisters and siblings are struggling.”
As protesters marched down 17th Street toward the Lincoln Memorial, a small group of counterprotesters traveled alongside the march, preaching on the street and holding up signs such as “homo sex is sin.” The majority of the counterprotesters were sharing anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments. In response, the crowd started “Jesus loves gays” chants.
Counter protestors followed the march to the Lincoln Memorial, most of whom carried signs against LGBTQ+ people and abortion.
“I feel so safe here … I’m here by myself. I didn’t bring anyone. I feel incredibly safe. Counterprotesters are few and far between from what I’ve seen,” said Jessica Vajdos, a senior in SPA.
Lizzie Cote, a freshman in SPA who witnessed the counterprotests, said fighting for queer and reproductive rights were her main reasons for attending the march.
“It really hurts my heart to see people fueled with hate by something that’s actually very loving. Religion is loving, and I personally went to Catholic school and it was a beautiful time for me and I loved learning about it,” Cote said. “Seeing all these issues and conflict just makes me very sad for how divided our country is.”
Though Cote said she felt saddened and discouraged by the anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment from counterprotestors, she continued to stay present and motivated.
“I want to keep going for all of my queer family, for my queer friends, for myself and for my girlfriend,” Cote said. “It doesn’t matter if I see that hate because I know it’s everywhere and I’m just going to keep going because that’s what matters. Because that’s the only way that change actually happens — by going against what we think is wrong.”
This article was edited by Abigail Hatting, Tyler Davis and Abigail Turner. Copy editing done by Luna Jinks, Oliva Citarella, Sabine Kanter-Huchting and Ella Rousseau.
