The new president has said less-than-nice things about quite a number of people, and today some of those decided to protest about it. It was time to assert our First Amendment rights of freedom of speech and assembly, even though as a non-citizen I don't know if I'm technically covered by those rights. Whatever - it was time to march.
The Metro down from Wheaton was a party train, packed with banner carriers and slogan wearers. Pete was entranced by all the shouting that continued as we alighted at Union Station. "Oh my goodness!" he stated continually in his fine British accent. And there were a lot of people. Like, literally.
We finally got up the escalators and began our wander down to the Mall where we became three of the estimated 500,000 there. I told you it was a lot. The volume of people was reflected in the diversity of issues that have been stirred up in this horrendous presidential campaign, and I can tell you from the banners and signs that we humans are an imaginative, hilarious lot when we get together. There were also plenty of hats.
Having wandered for the best part of two hours, and got somewhat freaked out by the density of the crowds while trailing a four-year-old, we headed back to the station before the marching proper began. If the noise continued like it did while we were there then no amount of bulletproof glass is going to keep things quiet in the Oval Office, and hopefully the message that in a democracy "the people" means everybody - not just the minority who voted for you - will get through.
An average day at Wheaton Metro.
Posters out!
Things filled up fast.
The Trump memorabilia man at Union Station was not doing great business today.
Sauntering down.
Love, peace, kindness. Amen!
Pussy hats of all varieties were on display.
Thank you, Canada.
We were there!
And so was everyone else.
Yes! I'm not alone!
One of these signs is not like the others.
Another of my faves.
Pete picks a typically intellectual subject to protest about.
And in half-a-million people we bumped into Amanda!
Fighting the power.
And that about sums it up.
