Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Washington DC on Saturday (January 18), just days before Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 47th President of the United States. Trump is set to take office on January 20, succeeding Joe Biden.
Organised under the banner of the “People’s March”, a coalition of nonprofit organisations, including Sakhi for South Asian Survivors, led a series of protests against Trump’s policies and his close allies like Elon Musk. Protesters displayed anti-Trump banners and raised slogans near the Lincoln Memorial to express dissent against what they described as a return to divisive governance.
The demonstration mirrored similar protests held during Trump’s first inauguration in January 2017. The protests began in three parks across the capital, converging near the Lincoln Memorial as a united front.
“Mass protest is one of the most effective ways to demonstrate to our communities that we are not obeying in advance or bowing to fascism,” stated People’s March organisers, encouraging others to resist.
Participating groups included Abortion Action Now, Time to Act, Women’s March, Planned Parenthood, Sierra Club and the National Women’s Law Center Action Fund, among others.
Women’s March is anchoring the logistics of the mobilisation. Similar marches, though at a smaller scale, were also held in various other cities including New York, Seattle and Chicago.
“We really wanted to come to support women, equality, immigration, everything that really feels like we don’t have much of a say in right now,” Brittany Martinez, one of the protesters, told USA TODAY.
Law enforcement officials said protests and major events are being planned throughout the weekend ahead of the inauguration on Monday. The protestors condemned Trump’s policies and values. Many of them chanted “F**k Trump!”, “Trans Lives Matter!”, “Stand up, fight back!”, “Trust Black women!” and “We cannot be silent.”
(With inputs from agencies)
