By Michele Bourdieu
WASHINGTON, DC -- A variety of creative signs and energetic chants characterized the Washington, DC, People's March on a chilly, damp January 18 as thousands of people came out to express their concerns for democracy, the Bill of Rights, women's rights, human rights, the climate crisis, immigration and more -- two days before the inauguration of recently elected and former US president Donald Trump.
Three groups of participants, based on causes they represented, met at three locations that morning and came together on 17th Street to march in one large crowd estimated at about 25,000 toward the National Mall, past the World War II Memorial, to the Lincoln Memorial.
The three locations for the morning preparation allowed people and groups with like concerns to get together and listen to some talks by their leaders. These were Farragut Square on 17th Street, which focused on Democracy, Immigration, Anti-Militarism, and Climate; McPherson Square on 15th Street, which focused on the critical issues facing DC and welcomed Black and Brown people from everywhere most impacted by a system that doesn't keep them safe; and Franklin Park on I Street, which focused on bodily autonomy, gender justice and LGBTQIA issues.
By noontime the three groups came together on 17th Street to march en
masse to the Lincoln Memorial for the afternoon rally and People's Fair.
Women's March, which held a very successful march in DC in 2017, was joined in organizing this People's March by Abortion Rights Now, Sierra Club, Planned Parenthood, ACLU and National Women's Law Center. Many other groups participated and supported the People's March, reflecting the priorities of a larger coalition of progressive organizations -- from the Center for Constitutional Rights to the Movement for Black Lives, Grassroots Global Justice, Radical Elders and many more.
According to the Associated Press, Tamika Middleton, managing director of Women’s March, noted the political purpose of a broader-based People's March.
"'We’re recognizing the necessity of having a really broad-based coalition that is bringing people in,' Middleton said. 'We’re asking ourselves how we build a big tent that allows for the kind of multiracial, multi-class, multi-gender mass movement that can make a difference politically in the coming years.'"*
Keweenaw Now at Farragut Square
Keweenaw Now joined the groups gathered in Farragut Square, noting a large variety of signs for many causes and interviewing a few of the participants. Most of those interviewed preferred to give only their first names.
Bernadette, who traveled to the march from South Carolina, told Keweenaw Now she had attended the Women's March following Trump's first election and decided to come to DC again for the People's March.
Many signs calling attention to the climate crisis were also present in Farragut Square. One very large sign led to an interview with the mother of the sign maker, Jill, from Boston.
Also in Farragut Square, a group from the Sierra Club handed out flags and signs.
Zoe, a community organizer for Sierra Club, now living in Maryland, told Keweenaw Now why she works with the environmental group.
Zoe, originally of Bloomington, IN, and a recent resident of Rockville, MD, representing a group from the Sierra Club, talks about her work in community organizing to address issues like climate change. (Video by Keweenaw Now)Another group with a notable presence in Farragut Square was the Jewish Voice for Peace, Jewish supporters of the Palestinian victims of Israel's aggression.
Hershel, a Maryland resident and a member of Jewish Voice for Peace, tells Keweenaw Now that their group is supporting Palestinians and other groups represented in the People's March.
In Farragut Square, during the gathering of participants in the Jan. 18, 2025, People's March, Hershel, representing Jewish Voice for Peace, tells Keweenaw Now why that group is participating. (Video by Keweenaw Now)
A Peace Tank was also present in Farragut Square in preparation for the march.
Marchers did not hesitate to display signs of their opposition to the results of the November presidential election.
Others took a positive approach, expressing what we need to do.
A few well-behaved four-legged marchers accompanied their owners.
On to the Lincoln Memorial ...
The march continued down 17th Street to the National Mall, passing the World War II Memorial and then gathering on both sides of the reflecting pool facing the Lincoln Memorial.
It's standing room only as thousands of marchers arrive as close as they can get to the front of the Lincoln Memorial and the video projections of speakers representing organizers and diverse supporting groups. (Video © and courtesy John Peiffer)
At the Lincoln Memorial, leaders of various progressive organizations spoke about their work and how it may be threatened by the incoming administration. They encouraged the audience to join them in the fight to protect democracy, diversity and human rights.
While most of the speakers were women leaders and activists, men participating in the march displayed their support of feminist causes.
The People's March also took place in about 350 cities in the US and internationally in Canada, the UK, France and Poland.***
What is the People's March now?
The People's March is more than just the Jan. 18 event in DC. The march was a call for community. That community defines itself as follows: "The People’s March is a coalition of organizations building community power and working on many issues across the country. Our mobilization on January 18 is one step toward building the unity necessary to win the fights that are most important to us and our communities." ****
The issues that community is working on are listed under 5 Demands:
- Anti-War contingent demands
- Immigration and Democracy contingent demands
- DC contingent demands
- Gender and Sexuality contingent demands
- Climate contingent demands
Go to https://www.peoplesmarch.com/demands and click on each of the above to learn what those demands include. If you are interested in participating in working on any of these, click here and then click on Get the People's Toolkit to show your interest.
Editor's Notes:
* See the Jan. 17, 2025, Associated Press article, "A rebranded Women’s March returns before Trump’s inauguration as progressives seek to regroup."
** Click here to learn more about Code Pink.
*** See the Wikipedia article "People's March" for a list of US cities that held the People's March in solidarity with the DC March, including Houghton, Mich. See also Alexandra Larsen's January 20, 2025, Keweenaw Now article, "Local concerned citizens join People's March in Houghton despite frigid weather."
**** See "The People's Toolkit."
No comments:
Post a Comment