On Saturday, January 21st, the day after Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 45th president of the United States, millions of people gathered to voice their opposition to his platform and administration.
In the aftermath, demonstrators took to their blogs — we’ve gathered reflections and photos from those who marched.
“Why I Marched,” Worley Headspace Blog
First-time demonstrator Amy Worley was moved by her ethics and faith to march in Raleigh, North Carolina, and penned this open letter letting her representatives know it.
Dear Representative:
I need you to know why.
You represent me. You need to understand.
I don’t march. I’ve never done it before.
41 years and no marching.
Democrat and Republican presidents. No marching.
But I vote. Every. Single. Time. I also write checks to help worthy candidates get elected.
So, you need to know why I woke up early on a cold, wet January morning to walk down Fayetteville Street with 15,000 North Carolinians. You need to know why I made signs reminding my fellow citizens that love drives out hate.
Suhita Shirodkar participated in a march in San Jose, California, with sketchbook in hand — see all her impressions on Sketch Away.
“What Good Does it Do to March?,” LoriLoo
Lori McCleese joined the march in Oakland, California, and articulated her reasons why to her taxi driver on the way home.
“I hope he’ll surprise us all and be a good president.”
“I try to keep my mind open to that possibility. Based on what I’ve seen and heard, though, my hopes aren’t high. Until then, though, we’ll march, we’ll organize, we’ll protest, and we’ll do what we can to fight the gross oppression America has harbored for way too long. That’s my idea of making America great.”
Sean Talbot joined thousands of people marching in the rain in Portland, Oregon. See more of his photos from the day at Stumptown Lives.
In San Francisco, California, marcher Jane Lurie captured this image of City Hall, awash in pink. See more of her photos at Jane Lurie Photography.
“I Think You Meant to Say ‘Thank You’,” Challa and Haggis
Rachel MacAulay marched in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and followed up the day with a few words for those who didn’t understand the point of the march, or who insulted its participants.
You say that we’re not going to accomplish anything and we’re wasting our time. It may be true, but believe me, it’s worth the try. It’s worth the investment of airfare, bus charters, overnight hotel rooms. Because the time to act is now, even if it’s a continuous series of nows for as long as it takes. Later is too late. Speaking truth to power needs to be done before that truth has been so twisted by that power; so turned inside out and upside down that people start forgetting the real truth and believing the altered one.
I marched today to lend my voice to what turned out to be at least two million others, around the globe. We are, all of us, the last tiny voice in Whoville. Together, we will be heard. Only together will we be heard.
The blogger behind Liff In Life (pictured above, right) also marched in Portland, Oregon. See more photos and read about her experience in her post, “Rain On This Parade?”
“What the Women’s March Meant to a Man Who Stayed Home and Watched the Kids,” The Boeskool
The writer of popular blog The Boeskool shared photos taken by his wife, who participated in a march in Nashville, Tennessee, and offered his thanks to her and all the other demonstrators.
So thank you, women who marched! Thanks to the men also –- both the ones who marched, and the ones who stayed home with the kids –- but thank you most of all to the women. Thank you for your strength and for your compassion and for the way you make the world better. Thank you for the voices that won’t be silenced. Thank you to those of you who are willing to be unapologetically in-your-face about demanding and preserving your rights. Thank you for letting my daughter see how many of you there are out there. Thank you to my wife for showing our kids every day that women are strong and feminism is totally kick ass. Thank you for filling me with hope.
In Minneapolis, Minnesota, Heather Whepley caught this photo of former state Governor Floyd Olsen adorned with one of the pink knit hats that were ubiquitous at the marches. See more of her day at Every Day and In Between.
“Women’s March,” chic nerd reads
After the New York City march, the blogger at chic nerd reads was moved to remember the day in verse.
you keep trying
to diminish us,
as if you forget
about the flower
that bloomed you
into existence.– and we march on and on and on and on
A young girl marches with her family at the Women’s March on Washington. See more photos from Washington, D.C., in “To Bear Witness” at When I See You Again.
“Intersectionality,” Marquita Nicole
Marquita Nicole attended her local march despite misgivings, and found her doubts both confirmed and assuaged.
I saw a young white girl of about 8 or 9 years wearing a “‘Nah — Rosa Parks” shirt. I saw white teenage girls with Black Lives Matter on theirs and elders with figures like Malcolm, Marcus and Martin on theirs. I saw middle to upper class white family holding a sign that said “Racism Is Not Okay”. And there, somewhere in the crowd, was my very mixed but classified as white friend who actually did attend Black Lives Matter stands and has stood with us from the beginning. She and her children.
Moreover, the marching protesters — mostly white anglo and white hispanic — walked up and down a major street chanting “NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE, NO RACIST POLICE.”
And that made me feel good. Good as fuck, if you really want to know.
But I do wonder, is this all just a part of the anti-Trump frenzy, or has he actually sparked a unification?
Not all women, even those who vocally oppose the Trump administration, attended — or even supported — the marches; many women of color were troubled by an event that seemed to ignore the work and concerns of non-white activists (or at worst, to appropriate it). For more, read “Ain’t I a Woman: Feminist Intersectional History and the Women’s March,” by Erica Ifill of Not In My Colour and “Which Women’s March,” by Bianca at Black Girl Candidly.
“To My White Sisters Among the 48%,” Maureen O’Leary
Writer Maureen O’Leary was at a march in California, and followed up with a post exhorting white women to continue — and extend — their activism.
We went out of our “comfort zones” yesterday by taking to the streets. Let’s keep practicing our activism by also attending marches and events specifically geared towards the concerns of racial justice, equality in education, clean water, and immigration. Yes, we should have been doing it all along, but let’s start now anyway. Let’s extend ourselves further than we ever have before, and listen to to what our brothers and sisters of other races are saying without jumping to defense. Let’s dare to show up for everyone. After all, if we think fascism is new to the United States, I point to our history of slavery, Jim Crow, and Manifest Destiny and say no it isn’t. We have citizen brothers and sisters who have been facing death and destruction by government order for generations.
Interested in more inauguration-related reading? Longreads partnered with journalists from The Stranger to cover the run-up, inauguration, and aftermath — read the culmination of their work here.
While the women across the world are struggling for their rights to be treated as humans, America has shown such a beautiful display of strength and GIRL POWER. ❤
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Thanks so much for including me in this compendium. I just want to point out that I marched in Philadelphia and not Washington, D.C. Thank you!
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Thanks so much for the clarification — I’ve updated the post.
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I applaud the conviction to change for improving the circumstances for all women worldwide! It would seem to provide some real benefit if we could get that same sentiment behind holding all political figures accountable for their responsibilities in their representation of all Americans? The system fails when so many of the citizens feel disenfranchised enough to disregard their responsibilities to vote. Don’t relent your issues to a single day for a single reason, but rather let this be the day a better world is expected from all who participate😎
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“Don’t relent your issue to a single day for a single reason”
This is now my quote of the day. We should all live by this.
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Great post, my mother is so proud and discusses her emotions about the women’s march on her new Youtube channel as well. She is so proud and amazed of the outcome of people from all over the world and so am I. Girls Run The World!
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I love seeing these viewpoints! I, too, marched on Washington and it was one of the most uplifting and amazing things I’ve ever done… but the work isn’t done! Let’s keep going ladies.
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The actions against women that continue in western society is disgraceful. I want to live in a world where we are all free to engage with one another equally and fairly. Nice post!
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What a great assembly of different women of conviction! Thank you for sharing not only your ideas, but building the conversation by promoting other voices as well.
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We could be moving forward instead of fighting to prevent 100 years of progress from being wiped away. Elections matter. Your vote matters. ALWAY VOTE FOR THE PLATFORM! Great show of force, spirit, unity and love ladies. You gave me hope and strength to continue the fight. We can not let them take us backward to a world we will not recognize.
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I think it is always good to protest if you are unhappy about something, it doesn’t matter if you are a woman, man, child, white, black etc. letting the government know you disagree with their BS is enforcing your rights as a human being. Every person has a voice, one voice on its own may be small, but millions of voices is mighty. Look what Hitler achieved with just 1 voice, he inspired millions of Nazis to follow his sadistic orders. Imagine what he could have achieved if ‘War’ wasn’t his motive and actually done some good to the world.
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Great post. Wish I could have been there…
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Thank you for including me in this feature, Michelle. Seeing the City Hall light up in pink as we marched was a perfect exclamation point on the rally. San Francisco shined that day.
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My pleasure; it’s a beautiful shot.
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Yes to GIRL POWER ALL DAY EVERYDAY
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I’ve been marching, welcome to the party, be nonviolent and help if you can. Cheers #GoMarchersGo because if we want to do it smart, we do it nonviolently. #lovewins all the sacred games #gratitude <3nikiV
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I am so happy that there are people out there who care to make the world a better place for everyone.❤ Wish I could have been a part of it, but there wasn’t a march in my country😳
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I am so so so proud of all the women, men, children who marched. I did a local one in Toledo OH and there, too, we had so much energy, around 1000 walkers and great music, booths, etc. to enjoy after the march in fellowship. sr. Paulette Schroeder…Project Peace…IMagining a World wihtout War
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It’s nice to see all these women marched. Wish I could’ve too. But even though I didn’t, I’ll continue to support this so that all of us women can continue to let our voices be heard.
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Such a powerful channeling of energy by the protesters, but don’t stop now! March against the oppression of women by Islam generally, against the subjugation of women in Iran, Afghanistan, Somalia, Yemen. March against countries where rape is not a criminal offence. March against countries where girls are stereotyped against even attending school. Focus!
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Girl power!! The energy there to stand up for justice must have been amazing
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We will not be quieted, placated, abused. We will fight back and together we will show you that we are stronger than hate.
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I think the best thing about the Women’s Marchs’ is that they were held all over the world. Women from the United States, to France to New Zealand to Antarctica stood together in solidarity, unity and love and raised their voices for change! Thanks for your wonderful article highlighting this ❤
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I enjoyed this post, thank you! I didn’t know about the march so when I saw it on the news my heart soared. I’ve been really depressed about the state of things, but seeing all those women come together like that gave me some much needed hope. I am going to stop giving in to sadness and join the fight.
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I run a restaurant in 7th street in Washington, DC – the march gave us the busiest day we’ve ever seen (4x the business of the inauguration!), but more importantly, I want to comment on the guests the march generated. We served hundreds of the most kind, happy, hopeful, upbeat people on January 21. I was blown away at the consistency with which the people of the march were polite and happy as they made their way through our restaurant. For such an ugly time, it’s amazing to see how much light and love is being brought to the surface. Thank you, everyone!
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Apologies but can someone explain to me what women are marching for? I am British and cant see exactly what Trump has said of women
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Women can do anything!
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beautifully makes it real for me!
i enjoyed walking with a couple
thousand in my small N Cal town 🙂
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This is great thank you!
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I was moved as I read the reflections. Thank you for sharing this
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This is getting popularized everywhere. Is this serious?
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Beautiful article. Thank you.
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Wonderful article. I was very proud when I saw so many women on the news. Marching across the country together in unity for change. Thank you for sharing this.
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This march has given confidence to women all around the world to stand for their rights and fight for them . Such a great step taken by brave girls 👏👏👏
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Girl power!! Beautiful article.
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What a wonderful and unbiased documentation of the multitude of emotions the March made me feel. Thank you for sharing all of those important stories. I hope the completeness of your account inspires others to uphold the same standards of well-roundedness and open-mindedness.
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We all need a rebel soul.
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Girls rock! thanks for this!
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Thank you. It is a difficult time. Thank you for helping us support each other. If you are interested in some photos and comments on the Oakland March, come see my post at https://mbfitzmahan.wordpress.com/2017/01/25/for-women-the-womens-march-oakland/
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