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Women's March - Worldwide Solidarity - Did you go?
The numbers coming in are suggesting this is the largest protest in American history, which was joined by actions around the world. QZ is saying one out of every hundred Americans attended. Crowdsourced and assembled estimates are putting it somewhere between 3.6 to 4.6 million.
I was at the March in New York City. By the time I arrived, 200,000 people had already gone before. It lasted well into the evening. It was the largest protest I've seen in the city, larger than the 2003 anti-war protest. It was a great display of solidarity among groups of people I don't normally see working together. People recognize the broad and focused threats to themselves, their families, their neighbors, and the country.
The hard part is focusing that energy into other positive actions, and for the long haul ahead. But this shows people are ready.




I went to the Los Angeles event. By some miracle, I was still able to pull up within three blocks of Pershing Square (getting dropped off) and when I arrived by 9:30 the Metro had already alerted that it was running at capacity. Not just one line. All trains. All of them.
It was a little hectic to start (Pershing Square really isn't big enough and has construction going on) but it was amazing. They had to split it into two routes and shut down Grand Ave because it got so big.
It was really wonderful. I'll admit I saw more white faces there than anything else, and I had some major eye-rolling and facepalming with some of them, but overall not only was it "officially" peaceful but it FELT peaceful. There was no anger, just support and community.
It was surprising to see the numbers from LA. Having visited a few times and trying to use public transportation I couldn't imagine riding it at capacity. I'm glad you made it safely and felt empowered. I've felt empowered in other protest actions but this was so much less angry and really positive.
Kinda funny, but NYC has a Pershing Square too, by the Chrysler Building, which the march route passed through.
Usually, just the phrases "LA Metro" and "delays" is enough to spike my blood pressure, but fortunately from what I understand (I didn't take it, a friend drove me) no one was upset and everything went smoothly. My friend boarded Red Line at Hollywood/Western and five full trains passed (at 6min intervals which NEVER happens) before everyone just had to board the north/westbound trains to North Hollywood and start the whole journey from there. I walked my friend back to the Union Station terminus when it ended and the Gold Line platform was also packed to the gills.
Empowered is a good word. Going gave me a lot of confidence and helped put faces and real people to the movement. I've been mourning in between bouts of action but I feel so much more energized and ready to work.
I've been reading a lot of resources and the Indivisible Guide seems to be the most effective thing individuals can do besides supporting existing organizations. https://www.indivisibleguide.com/
Since I manage a lot of online communities I'm not sure I have time to (co-)lead anything locally but I''m trying to find people who can in my legislative district. Gotta call congress people daily, and get everyone else to do it.
I went to the Edmonton solidarity march. Much smaller than NYC's, for sure, but still a great show of solidarity. I did a better write-up in /edmonton and posted a discussion like this one in /Imzyians_against_Trum.
Awesome! Thanks for sharing!
It was really amazing to see so much worldwide support. Americans think the world revolves around them, and it's really that the rest of the world is so much better educated about us than ourselves.
Bridges, not walls. We rounded the southern part of the route around sundown and we were greeted by fellow protesters gathered on the Park Avenue Viaduct.