Women’s March on Washington Stretches Into Second Day
By Ani Bundel
The Women’s March on Washington stretched into a second day with crowds of protesters in pink hats taking over the Lincoln Memorial.
You might have thought that after yesterday’s Women’s March taking over much of downton DC purely from sheer attendance volume that today would be a day of rest for those standing against the new administration. Their point made, they could sit under their own vine and fig tree, a moment alone in the shade, at home in this nation we’ve made.
But not so. With so many protestors in town for the march, many stayed the extra day today to take in the sights and wander about the Mall in their signature pink hats. And before long, a secondary gathering began, this time at the other end of the Mall, down by the Lincoln Memorial. As of this writing, the crowds have been swelling in size, and speakers from yesterday have been showing up as well, including Gloria Steinem.
This is a completely unscheduled event, by the way, and there are no permits for the gathering. (For those saying “freedom of assembly”, that’s not actually how it works in DC. Since much of the downtown area is classified as federal property, and therefore, by law, protests need a permit.)
Happening now: police have shut down the Lincoln Memorial as crowds chant "this is what democracy looks like" #inaug2017 #WomensMarch
— Brittany Temple (@britt_temple) January 22, 2017
Still, though the Capitol Police are making vague motions at shutting the protest down, they have not actually gone through with it.
Meanwhile, all around DC, there are little memorials that have sprung up all over the city to yesterday’s protest. Thousands left their signs at the Trump Hotel to have them quickly tossed. But in other areas, the signs have been left as arranged by the protestors, and people have been stopping by all day to pay their respects.
WWLS? What would Lincoln say about what @potus wants to do today? Silence is defeat! Facts matter! #womensmarch. pic.twitter.com/HHz83vAtIU
— Meryl - I'm voting. Are you? (@NeimanOhio) January 22, 2017
I myself stopped at one of these spots this afternoon, in Logan Circle. And I can report that the park had a hush over it, like one was visiting a shrine, with spontaneous hugs and tears from those visiting, as if the emotion of hope from yesterday had also been left behind along with the signs.
Next: The Women’s March on Washington in Photos
May the Rebellion continue to pass the baton.