Thousands Rally in Washington Against Trump’s Swearing-In

Several thousand protesters, predominantly women, gathered in Washington on Saturday to demonstrate against President-elect Donald Trump’s upcoming inauguration. Many wore the pink hats that became a symbol of the larger protest against his first inauguration in 2017.

The “People’s March,” which began at three different locations near the White House, drew participants despite light rain. In Franklin Park, one of the kickoff sites, demonstrators rallied for gender justice and bodily autonomy. Other groups gathered at two nearby parks, focusing on democracy, immigration, and local Washington issues, before heading toward the march’s final destination at the Lincoln Memorial.

Police vehicles, sirens blaring, patrolled the areas between the starting points.

The protests against Trump’s inauguration are significantly smaller than those in 2017, partly due to divisions within the U.S. women’s rights movement after Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris in November’s election. Vendors sold #MeToo buttons, “Love trumps hate” badges, and People’s March flags for $10. Participants carried signs with messages like “Feminists v. Fascists” and “People over politics.”

“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,” said Mini Timmaraju, head of advocacy group Reproductive Freedom for All, during the rally’s kickoff. She emphasized that abortion rights remain widely supported despite Trump’s victory, leading the crowd in a chant of, “We are the majority!”

Reproductive rights organizations joined forces with civil rights, environmental, and other women’s advocacy groups to organize the march, opposing Trump’s agenda as he prepares to assume office on Monday. Trump secured victories in all seven battleground states as well as the popular vote in November’s election.