Back From the Philly March
Wow. Just…wow. We must have had at least 50,000 people there.
My wife really wanted to go, and I was more than happy to tag along. My wife and I got to Philly around 9 and to Logan Square around 9:15. I’ve never seen so many clever signs. Many of them employing the vulgarism that Trump has now turned into a point of feminist pride. Some of my faves: ‘Putin’s Pussy’, ‘Trump’s So Vain He Probably Thinks This March is About Him’, a sign with Trump copping a feel off of the Statue of Liberty, ‘You Can’t Comb Over Racism’, and ‘Ovary-Acting? Nope’.
As you might expect, there was tremendous camaraderie in the crowd. Generations of activists. For many, this was their first protest march. Generations of the same family marching together.
The march itself didn’t take as long as we had expected since we didn’t march all the way to the Art Museum, but to a stage that was likely set up at least a quarter of a mile from the famous steps.
Here’s what’s incredible. Being older, hungry and perhaps in need of a rest room, we left shortly after the official ceremonies and speeches started around 12 noon. As we headed back towards Logan Circle and ultimately to our car, the people were still pouring into the march. It was like that all the way back to Logan Square. Even as we then headed back to the parking lot, groups of people were just arriving.
I’m so glad we went. The key now is to turn all of that pent-up resolve into highly-effective grassroots action. In fact, my lone disappointment was that very few organizations had set up places where people could sign up. However, it must be noted that one enterprising mother and her daughters sold Girl Scout cookies. I’m gonna go out on a limb–best Girl Scout cookie sale EVER!
I may attach some pics if my technical chops are up to the task.
If you were marching anywhere today, share your experiences with us.
Photograph from kro731 on Instagram.
I’ve been watching the Women’s March on Washington on C-SPAN — now they’re taking calls as they follow the marchers and show overhead shots.
I know that CNN reported that there were more present for today’s Washington march than were there for Trump’s Inauguration.
My youngest daughter is marching in Portland, Oregon. The news media has said that there are 100,000 people there. Which is possible, since 50,000 registered in advance even though no registration was required.
I joined the Newark march and was very happy with the turnout. I thought it might be a couple hundred, but it must have been at least a thousand people. Everyone was friendly and positive.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump apparently gave a bizarre speech at the CIA and claimed that the news media showed fake shots of the inaugural crowd to make it look smaller than it was:
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/trump-makes-bizarre-courtesy-all-at-cia-headquarters
Thank god adults are back in charge!
Very inspirational day. The best part is that it feels like the beginning.
What matters is that those marching treat it as the beginning. Time to get involved with the grassroots. Me? Think I’m headed down to the Delaware United meeting on Tuesday.
Whatever you do, don’t let the moment pass.
We’ll see you there Som
Spent a good part of the day at the march/rally in Newark with my wife. (My daughter was marching in DC.)
The energy was incredible, and so was the overwhelmingly positive spirit. We’ve got a lot to be worried about, but today we saw the great potential of working together.
Related note: Stephanie Hansen gave a great talk at the rally, and Matt Meyer, among others, encouraged the crowd to get behind her campaign. Hansen talked about her record, especially on equal pay and environmental issues, and it was quite clear she’s saying more than “I’m a D, so vote for me.” She will be a strong legislator.
“Thank god adults are back in charge!”
I agree. The people to whom Trump said he would give the government showed up today in DC a million strong. We will hold him to that promise by taking control as soon as possible.
https://www.facebook.com/StephanieHansenForSenate/videos/159259191233873/
Stephanie’s speech at the rally.
I’m all for equal pay, but someone is going to have to explain to me how the chip on Stephanie Hansen’s shoulder about it is supposed to drive men to the polls.
We just had this election — a hopeful, positive woman calling for equality against an authoritarian man peddling fear. Did it work for HIllary? Then why are we re-running it?
I didn’t hear a word about class issues, and I think I know exactly where a corporate lawyer will stand on those. Pass.
It did work. She won the vote. There’s no electoral college for the Delaware Senate.
@SW: And there’s no California in SD 10.
My take on this woman, whose long record is being ignored, is that it’s all about her. I heard nothing from that speech that might disabuse me of that impression.
The lesson of the Tea Party is clear: To defeat the other party you must first clean house in your own.
If you want to drive Democratic turnout, equal pay might be a smart drum to beat.
How so?
I worked in corporate America long enough to know that men don’t hear “equal pay” as women getting raises. They hear it as men having their salaries cut. Or are you so deluded to think that this is a non-zero-sum game for employers?
I don’t think men hear it that way at all. I think equal pay is a great issue to drive Democratic women to the polls, which is what counts here.
I don’t expect the SD10 candidate to run on the pet issues of a couple of guys from Hockessin. Whatever it takes to keep the Senate in Dem hands for one more term is fine with me.
Meanwhile, at the Philly march, Mayor Jim Kenney promised to sign an anti-wage discrimination bill that has passed City Council. COMCAST has threatened to sue the city over the bill.
Good things are already happening.
“Whatever it takes to keep the Senate in Dem hands for one more term is fine with me.”
Then you’ve learned nothing.
Little different than (((Femen))) and Pussy Riot in Russia… probably have the same result too.
Christopher… thanks for your stupid comment. I very much appreciate it because now we all know you don’t know anything. It makes this all much easier. I do see that you know how to pepper you comments with keywords you likely heard on AM radio. It’s like a moronic free association. It’s a very big tell. We’re onto you.
@RE: The next conservative who offers anything but snide comments here will be the first. They don’t know enough about policy issues to talk about them in any terms they haven’t heard from Rush or Fox.