Thousands of demonstrators in Washington, predominantly women, on Saturday gathered to protest President-elect Donald Trump’s upcoming inauguration. The march, smaller in scale than the massive protests that marked Trump’s first inauguration in 2017, highlighted critical issues such as gender justice, bodily autonomy, democracy, and immigration.
Protesters assembled at three kickoff locations near the White House, each focused on distinct themes. At Franklin Park, a central hub for the “People’s March,” attendees rallied for women’s rights and reproductive freedom.
Other groups gathered at nearby parks, one emphasizing the importance of protecting democracy and immigration rights, and another addressing local Washington issues.
Vendors sold buttons bearing slogans like #MeToo and Love Trumps Hate, while colorful “People’s March” flags waved in the light drizzle. Many demonstrators carried signs with bold messages, including “Feminists v. Fascists” and “People Over Politics.“
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Mini Timmaraju, president of Reproductive Freedom for All, addressed the crowd, expressing the collective resolve to stand against the challenges they anticipate under Trump’s administration.
“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,” Timmaraju said.
Despite Trump’s victory, she pointed to the continued popularity of abortion rights among Americans. Leading the crowd in a spirited chant of “We are the majority!” she emphasized the enduring fight for reproductive freedom.
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While the protest was notably smaller than the 2017 Women’s March, it reflected the fractures within the U.S. women’s rights movement, which has faced challenges following Trump’s defeat of Vice President Kamala Harris in November.
Still, the event brought together a coalition of reproductive rights advocates, civil rights organizations, environmental activists, and other groups united in opposition to Trump’s policies.
Trump, who won the popular vote and all seven battleground states in the November election, will take office on Monday. As his administration begins, protests like the “People’s March” underscore the determination of many Americans to hold leaders accountable and push for policies that align with values of equity and inclusion.
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