A picture of an alternate timeline

[sovay]

Especially since the crowd spilled back at least as far as the Museum of Natural History, my godchild and I got much closer than we had expected to the head of the Mall surrounded by signs themed from penguins to the Constitution, accompanied by intermittently organized political chants and a noise which turned out to be one dude processing through the crowd playing the Wii home theme on a shofar, which is honestly the kind of weirdness I want at my protests, along with the vocal defense of trans rights and science. selkie witnessed a bagpiper in parade dress blasting the "Battle Hymn of the Republic." We were near a marble bench when my godchild needed to sit down, after which he acted as a sort of gateman helping protesters and their signs and their backpacks over or under the thigh-high chain of the fencing. We saw a lot of veterans, a lot of people who looked as though they had protested on this same mall in the 1960's. A lot of kids. A lot of rainbow flags. We had no signs, but our queer/trans/disabled selves. We were tired and counted.

Comments

[theseatheseatheopensea]

We were tired and counted.

You most definitely do! <3 <3 <3 *strength and fist bumps*

[julian]

<3!

(And thank you.)

[gwynnega]

Wonderful! (I marched on Washington back in 1989--a reproductive rights protest. It was a great experience.)

Speaking of protest weirdness, someone was wearing a giant dinosaur suit in Glendale today. The only part of the person I could see was sandals and painted toenails.

Let's emancipate collectively

[asakiyume]

Thank you so much for your participation. I was with my dad today, not at a protest, but I have been VERY heartened by the turnout all over the country.

[a_reasonable_man]

The Boston crowd was huge, with signs each denoting a different outrage committed by the administration, from its attacks on Social Security to women’s rights to free speech to Canada, its tariff policies and its education policies. There were, of course, many signs attacking or mocking the President, Vice President, and the TeslaX guy. It was a crowd made up of both old and young. I think it was heartening for everyone to see one another.

You and your godchild are adorable together.

[radiantfracture]

<3

[thisbluespirit]

We were tired and counted.

<3<3<3

[skygiants]

I was hoping for the usual brass band at the Boston one; I'm sure they were there but we were nowhere near and didn't hear them (nor did we hear the Dropkick Murphys although it still delights me that they were there. BOSTON STRONG.) But we did catch a strain of fife and drum which honestly seemed even more appropriate in some ways.

[sabotabby]

Thank you for fighting.

[ashlyme]

Respects and love to you all there. There's something cheering about shofars and bagpipes being lifted against the fascists - may their walls come crashing down. I'm not sure if you're one for fistbumps, so here's *hugs* across the sea.

[sorcyress]

[personal profile] selkie witnessed a bagpiper in parade dress blasting the "Battle Hymn of the Republic"

Solidarity forever!

That's a hell of a trip!

[jesse_the_k]

Congrats on making it all the way and back. (I appreciate the significant effort required! Thanks.)

Our march was more young than old, but old were well-represented.

I was indeed on the mall in 1969 for the Moratorium anti-Vietnam–war rally, though I can't remember whether it was October or November.

[gullyfoyle]

Where are your feathers? Because you and all that were there are perching in my soul. Thank you.

[lokifan]

Thank you!