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So Many Protesters, Not Enough Room in the Streets


Photo from Washington Post

This is truly mind-boggling. More than 5 million people participated in 673 marches in 75 countries around the globe today for gender rights, human rights, immigrant rights and justice, and in opposition to the positions espoused by Donald Trump.

More than 5 million people around the world took to the streets in peaceful demonstrations on all seven continents, launching a new movement for human rights, women’s rights and justice.
500,000 turned out in Washington, so many that there wasn't enough room in the streets to let them march to the White House.

[More...]

By mid-afternoon, organizers had decided the crowd was too big to formally march to the White House Ellipse, although protesters were already on the move. “They are going to tell the crowd they can go to the Ellipse if they want, but they are not doing the normal parade route, there is too many people,” said Chris Geldart, director of the D.C. Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency.

Similar scenes unfolded around the country. In Chicago, after a 150,000 demonstrators swamped downtown blocks, officials cancelled the march portion of the event. The Boston transit system added extra trains to accommodate tens of thousands of protesters there. Los Angeles, Seattle, Denver, New York and Miami also drew big crowds.

The scene was in stark contrast to the number of Trump supporters who showed up yesterday.

Marchers choked Metro lines. Inbound trains were packed with pink-hatted protesters, and the transit agency reported parking lots full at several stations by early in the day. By 11 a.m., Metro had clocked 275,000 transit rides. (By the same hour on Inauguration Day, 193,000 trips had been taken.)

....“You won’t get in. We can’t move,” said one woman on the phone from an overrun spot near American Indian Museum. She advised other marchers to seek other spots along the planned route. of yesterday's inauguration.

The sea of pink hats I saw had several men among them.

Protests were also held in Sydney, Berlin, London, Paris, Nairobi and Cape Town, and in Central and South America. Even Antartica chimed in.

Michael Moore ripped up his copy of the Washington Post.

Filmmaker Michael Moore held up a copy of today’s Washington Post, with the headline “Trump Takes Power.”

” I don’t think so!” he said. “We are here to vow to end the Trump carnage!” Then he ripped up the newspaper.

...“Twice now, we won the White House, yet they walked through the door!”

< Trump's Shameful Inaugural Speech | Day 2, 1,381 Days to Go >
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  • Display: Sort:
    Trump (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by FlJoe on Sat Jan 21, 2017 at 02:53:05 PM EST
    just gave some Queeg-like comments at the CIA, he spent more time complaining about the lying press and the size of yesterdays crowds then anything else.

    That was disturbing (5.00 / 1) (#35)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Jan 21, 2017 at 09:25:01 PM EST
    You tell a small room of CIA that when you were young...well you feel very young now. You feel like you're 30, or 36, or 39...ramble ramble, we used to win everything....ramble ramble

    Whew, and that at the end, rheumy eyeing the room, "I love you!"

    DISTURBING!

    Parent

    And talking (none / 0) (#12)
    by Ga6thDem on Sat Jan 21, 2017 at 03:32:05 PM EST
    about his Time magazine covers. he honestly has no idea what he's doing.

    Parent
    Trump's CIA (none / 0) (#21)
    by KeysDan on Sat Jan 21, 2017 at 04:57:12 PM EST
    visit today may have been designed to take some focus off the national and worldwide marches. But, he had better hope that his CIA performance does not see the light of day, the marches being a distraction from CIA visit.  It was scary, making Captain Queeg look the picture of mental health. He did have Kushner at the elbow, as his companion human, just in case.

    He said he hates lies, and took after the lying media, while stressing that no one feels more strongly about the CIA than he does. No one. And, he will give more backing, so much so that they all will want less backing.  He is so behind them.

     He will get rid of ISIS, radical Islamic terrorism, then, looking for the audience reaction (not much). And, he has no feud with the intel community.   And, his inaugural speech was great, and asked if they like it,but the media lied, saying it was an empty field, when it was maybe l.5 million.

     And, in case you were wondering, he has been on Time's cover more than anyone. maybe 14 or 15 times, better than Tom Brady one time. His is a record never broken.

     And, then off to the Oval Office: He put Winston Churchill's bust in the oval office, again, but kept MLK,Jr.'s bust, that the lying media said he took out.  He would never do that, he respects MLK,Jr. too much to do that.  He loves academics and he is smart; his uncle was a professor. The CIA chief got the nod right away, and he did not even go on to interview others.  The CIA lobby, in which they were meeting was too small and he wants to make it bigger and get rid of the columns.

    Parent

    I watched that CIA speech (if that's what (5.00 / 1) (#26)
    by desertswine on Sat Jan 21, 2017 at 07:52:05 PM EST
    you call it).  The Duce is not a well man; he was rambling, unfocused, at times virtually incoherent, and obviously paranoid. And he looked unwell too, sort of puffy and unhealthy.  Captain Queeg was a good comparison.  

    Parent
    That it was (none / 0) (#28)
    by TrevorBolder on Sat Jan 21, 2017 at 08:04:47 PM EST
    But I was surprised at the reaction from the CIA personnel. Very receptive.
    It seems the problems with the CIA and The Donald were at the Senior appointed level, not with the analysts.

    Parent
    Not news (5.00 / 5) (#30)
    by Repack Rider on Sat Jan 21, 2017 at 08:17:13 PM EST
    It seems the problems with the CIA and The Donald were at the Senior appointed level, not with the analysts.

    If you will recall, the leadership signed off on the Iraq invasion, even though the analysts knew the WMD were a lie.

    No one from the Party of Personal Responsibility (tm) lost a job over that mistake, which cost the taxpayers $2T and killed over 100,000 innocent people.  If I made a mistake at work that only killed a hundred people, I would expect at the very least a reprimand.

    Parent

    Why do you think ... (5.00 / 1) (#57)
    by Yman on Mon Jan 23, 2017 at 08:59:18 AM EST
    ... the positive. reaction was from the CIA personnel?

    Pool reports later indicated that attendants who were cheering and clapping when Mr Trump spoke were not CIA staffers but people who accompanied Mr Trump, Washington Post fact-checker Gary Kessler wrote on Twitter. He later clarified that it was unclear exactly who the people were, but senior CIA members standing in front did not react until the end of the speech

    Parent

    Link (5.00 / 2) (#58)
    by Yman on Mon Jan 23, 2017 at 09:00:55 AM EST
    Link

    Even Donald's audiences are fake.   This is one very insecure man.

    Parent

    Trump's assessent (none / 0) (#46)
    by KeysDan on Sun Jan 22, 2017 at 10:48:58 AM EST
    was that the problem was with the media. He said that probably almost all of the attendees in the room voted for him. But, he would not ask them to raise their hands.  The Langley visit was on a Saturday, apparently, for invited CIA personnel.

     His remarks swung, in no particular order or rhythm, between efforts to entertain, brag, attack, and issue support.  A good opportunity, if not a field day, for the CIA psychology analysts to formulate a profile. So that was, perhaps, a constructive outcome.

     Perhaps, a weekday meeting with a larger cross-section of the CIA population would have been even more constructive.  Trump's Sunday morning tweets boast a standing ovation at the CIA (along with other best and greatest claims for his second day of prayer, CIA and media attack dog).

    Parent

    200,000 in Denver. (5.00 / 3) (#14)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Sat Jan 21, 2017 at 03:36:33 PM EST
    "...it's going to make the 'Tea Party' look like a child's tantrum." H/T Coloradopols.com

    Born and raised (5.00 / 1) (#25)
    by Suisser1 on Sat Jan 21, 2017 at 07:11:59 PM EST
    Manhattanite and I have never seen crowds like I saw today. I live in CT now, took the train in with hubby, daughter (19) and her friend. Grand Central was a protest unto itself. The ENTIRE surrounding area, Lex, 3rd, 2nd ALL closed to traffic 42nd street, over to 5th Ave and North, all closed - avenues and cross streets, crowds teaming every which way. Everyone defiant, creative (great signage) calm, enthused. It was amazing. Best day I've head since November 7th.

    Ditto (5.00 / 1) (#53)
    by BackFromOhio on Sun Jan 22, 2017 at 07:35:39 PM EST
    I got there before 10am; heard all the speeches.  Took hours to get to the end of the march destination.  Police were great -- helping needy elderly marchers and provding useful information.

    Parent
    My favorite sign (5.00 / 2) (#41)
    by Towanda on Sun Jan 22, 2017 at 01:13:35 AM EST
    was at the march in Madison, Wisconsin:

    DONALD TRUMP WILL LIE ABOUT THIS

    And, of course, he (via Spicer) did.

    My goodness (5.00 / 1) (#45)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Jan 22, 2017 at 10:47:07 AM EST
    conservatives are livid about this march. The best ones are the insults towards women like who's going to fix the sandwiches and clean the house? The reply from women has been if you're too d*mn lazy to fix your own sandwich you can starve to death. And now the misogyny is on full display once again from conservatives.

    Yesterday media claimed (1.00 / 2) (#7)
    by Redbrow on Sat Jan 21, 2017 at 02:12:14 PM EST
    Two million people attended Obama's first innaugaration but now you are under the delusion that 200,000 white privileged women in pink hats can't fit in the same area?

    Was that a failed attempt at a troll? (5.00 / 3) (#8)
    by desertswine on Sat Jan 21, 2017 at 02:16:06 PM EST
    So sad.

    Parent
    Oh, the internet (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by Ga6thDem on Sat Jan 21, 2017 at 03:26:43 PM EST
    is full of Trump apologists attempting to make excuses for not many people coming to the inauguration.

    Parent
    Awwwwwwe ... (5.00 / 1) (#22)
    by Yman on Sat Jan 21, 2017 at 05:13:55 PM EST
    Trolling and math.

    Harder than they look,  huh, Red?

    Parent

    Probably more than (none / 0) (#13)
    by TrevorBolder on Sat Jan 21, 2017 at 03:35:28 PM EST
    500k.
    Yup, this election rattled some cages

    Parent
    It should rattle (none / 0) (#17)
    by Ga6thDem on Sat Jan 21, 2017 at 03:59:46 PM EST
    Republican's cages. We're watching you guys. Women and POC are not gonna take the abuse the GOP apparently intends to dole out on us.

    Parent
    Correct (none / 0) (#29)
    by Repack Rider on Sat Jan 21, 2017 at 08:09:56 PM EST
    this election rattled some cages

    The most rattled seems to be The Great Leader himself.  He can't express a coherent thought, and he seems terribly scared.  He thinks that the media, WHICH GAVE HIM THE PRESIDENCY by failing to do their jobs, is against him.  I do not think it is possible to be any more delusional than that, but I am open to suggestions.

    Ever notice how small his hands are?  WTF is that about?

    Saw a great sign on the march I passed today (300-400 people stretching over about 200 yards in a town of 8000), "Truck Fump."

    Parent

    Seems like a lot of preaching to the choir (none / 0) (#31)
    by McBain on Sat Jan 21, 2017 at 08:21:33 PM EST
    Will any of this change opinions in swing states?  

    Parent
    Um... (5.00 / 1) (#34)
    by Repack Rider on Sat Jan 21, 2017 at 09:17:49 PM EST
    Will any of this change opinions in swing states?

    I'm sure you agree that if it doesn't, there is no hope for our country.  But yes to the obvious, of course it will.  How dumb would one have to be NOT to be affected?

    I have yet to understand how anyone could have voted for him, but there it is.  His bizarre behavior shows that he is about a third of the way into his nervous breakdown.  It sure isn't a question of if, but when.  Hopefully it will be soon so we can move on to the impeachment.

    Parent

    The industrial swing states (5.00 / 1) (#37)
    by NYShooter on Sat Jan 21, 2017 at 09:43:12 PM EST
    voted Trump for one basic reason; they're counting on him to keep his promise, and, bring back better jobs at higher pay. (The idea that 63 million people voted for him because of racism or misogyny was always nonsense. And, that miscalculation was also the reason we didn't have a Madam President Inauguration.)

    AS always, they voted their pocketbooks. If he doesn't keep the jobs promise, he's a one term President. I'd go so far as to predict he wouldn't even finish out his first term. Those "Deplorables" overlooked a lot of his outrageous behavior, but, the jobs thing, no overlooking that.

    Seriously, if he misses on his jobs promise the backlash would be more than he could tolerate. And, believe me, the backlash would be enormous. IMO.

    Parent

    Most strawman arguments .. (5.00 / 1) (#59)
    by Yman on Mon Jan 23, 2017 at 09:04:39 AM EST
    The idea that 63 million people voted for him because of racism or misogyny was always nonsense.

    ... usually are nonsense. No one ever claimed all of his supporters were motivated by racism or misogyny.

    Parent

    News alert! (none / 0) (#39)
    by Chuck0 on Sat Jan 21, 2017 at 10:57:47 PM EST
    It's not 1950 anymore. Most of those manufacturing jobs are NOT coming back. Buggy whip demand just ain't what it used. There's a couple of Amish guys across the river that pretty much have that market cornered.

    Parent
    He's going to (none / 0) (#42)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Jan 22, 2017 at 02:51:24 AM EST
    get his butt kicked then. This is the kind of thing that shows why a business man makes such a poor legislator. You cannot order businesses to put a plant in Ohio like you can order a taco bowl at your restaurant. Secondly, do you think those governors have never tried to get good paying jobs in those states? And what is Trump going to do differently than a lot of these Republican governors? Nothing that I've seen. The truth is we can't go back to the past nor can we recreate the past. Too bad those people actually believed anything he said.

    I had a conversation with a Trump supporter today who said crime is the worst it's ever been in this country. I showed her the FBI statistics on crime and how Trump has been lying to her about all that. Whether it penetrates into her mind that he has lied repeatedly about the crime rate remains to be seen but she just had no response.

    Parent

    I am in one of those states (none / 0) (#61)
    by Towanda on Mon Jan 23, 2017 at 12:36:46 PM EST
    . . . and you are not, and your statement is uninformed idiocy.  The evidence is clear re racism and misogyny in this state -- with a third of its population in of the most segregated metros in the country, with women below national norems in education and thus income, and more -- and argues that you have no credibility on this.

    Parent
    Suckers (none / 0) (#62)
    by Repack Rider on Mon Jan 23, 2017 at 02:07:29 PM EST
    they're counting on him to keep his promise, and, bring back better jobs at higher pay.

    Here is a guy who has broken every promise he has ever made, including his wedding vows.  You are telling me that the people who voted for him figured that after 70 years of dishonesty, he would suddenly change every aspect of his character.

    Can you offer any explanation for how people can be as stupid as you are telling me they are?

    Parent

    Marched in NYC (none / 0) (#50)
    by BackFromOhio on Sun Jan 22, 2017 at 07:30:37 PM EST
    Rosie Perez announced around noon that there were 1 million marchers in D.C. and already 250,000 in NYC - I believe final count was at least 500,000 --the city was a wall of people. People in residential apartments and office buildings could be seen standing at their windows, some with signs hanging, all showing support for marchers.

    Parent
    Pretty diverse crowd (none / 0) (#20)
    by CST on Sat Jan 21, 2017 at 04:43:28 PM EST
    And way more than 200,000 people.

    Parent
    Huh? (none / 0) (#27)
    by Repack Rider on Sat Jan 21, 2017 at 08:02:28 PM EST
    Two million people attended Obama's first innaugaration [sic] but now you are under the delusion that 200,000 white privileged women in pink hats can't fit in the same area?

    No, of course not.

    Did you have any other questions whose answers would be obvious to Ray Charles (both blind AND dead)?

    Parent

    reading comprehension please (none / 0) (#40)
    by Jeralyn on Sun Jan 22, 2017 at 12:34:47 AM EST
    No one said they couldn't fit in the area, they couldn't fit on the street the route called for to march on.

    It was more like 400,000. One more comment like "white privileged women" which is false and bigoted and you will be banned from this site.

    Parent

    Jeralyn: "No one said they couldn't fit in the area, they couldn't fit on the street the route called for to march on. It was more like 400,000."

    ... if this rooftop view from the F.A.A. Building on Independence Ave. in D.C. is any indication of the turnout. I'd say that the official estimate of 500,000 was rather conservative.

    It was a great turnout nationwide today, even in small towns. To kick things off this weekend in Hawaii, about 8,000 marched through Waikiki last night from Kapiolani Park to the Trump International Hotel. Over 800 people turned out to march in Kaunakakai, Molokai -- on an island with a total population of 7,000 residents.

    And in Honolulu, the thousands of us who converged on the State Capitol received a pleasant surprise when we were joined by 83-year-old GOP State Rep. Cynthia Thielen (R-Kailua), who addressed the crowd from the rostrum and criticized Trump's disrespect of women.

    "There is good reason why my granddaughters are marching in Washington, and I'm here this morning in solidarity with them," she said as we erupted loudly in agreement. "I've seen too many struggles of women to remain silent. I hope the Trump Administration hears us all today, loud and clear - and I say that as a Republican."

    It was an inspiring day.

    Parent

    AP says (none / 0) (#49)
    by CST on Sun Jan 22, 2017 at 03:54:24 PM EST
    At least 500,000 and likely more.

    I have no idea how to even venture a guess.  There were no helicopters to be seen for the duration of the rally and drones are banned in DC, so I don't know how they'd count.

    Parent

    as I reported above (none / 0) (#51)
    by BackFromOhio on Sun Jan 22, 2017 at 07:32:16 PM EST
    MC at NYC march, Rosie Perez, announced around noon that there were 1 million marchers in D.C.

    Parent
    The Washington March is dwarfing the (none / 0) (#1)
    by desertswine on Sat Jan 21, 2017 at 01:25:53 PM EST
    size of that small, sad inaugural yesterday.  A few more of these will give il Duce an excuse to declare martial law.

    Lies, all lies. There were bigly, the yuugest (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by vml68 on Sat Jan 21, 2017 at 03:40:37 PM EST
    crowds for the Inaugural. Tr*mplethinskin was there, he saw them!
    Trump accuses media of lying about size of inauguration crowds

    I read that there is going to be a press conference at 4:30 and crowd size will be discussed. I guess that is the new national priority.

    Parent

    The white people couldn't show up (5.00 / 1) (#36)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Jan 21, 2017 at 09:26:23 PM EST
    In photos because of the white grass protection ;)

    Parent
    Not (5.00 / 1) (#38)
    by FlJoe on Sat Jan 21, 2017 at 09:43:21 PM EST
    to mention the thousands who showed up wearing white sheets.

    Parent
    And so there was. (none / 0) (#44)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sun Jan 22, 2017 at 04:39:45 AM EST
    vml68: "I read that there is going to be a press conference at 4:30 and crowd size will be discussed."

    Sean Spicer acquitted himself so well on his very first outing as White House press secretary, don'tcha think?

    ;-D

    Parent

    Is it too late for that Trump-Sanders debate? (none / 0) (#2)
    by jondee on Sat Jan 21, 2017 at 01:44:16 PM EST
    let's see how well The Donald can think on his feet.

    I mean, he's a wealthy business man, so he should be able to take command of any situation, right?

    I would (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by FlJoe on Sat Jan 21, 2017 at 02:00:54 PM EST
    prefer Elizabeth Warren, check out her speech in Boston today(I can't find a link right now), it was a barnburner. h|Her work at Senate hearings is always spectacular.

    Parent
    She'd probably be great (5.00 / 1) (#6)
    by jondee on Sat Jan 21, 2017 at 02:11:05 PM EST
    but I think a lot of the people turned on by Trump close their ears as soon as they see a woman up there.

    Parent
    Holy (none / 0) (#3)
    by FlJoe on Sat Jan 21, 2017 at 01:53:03 PM EST
    crap, Madonna just dropped the FU bomb live on CNN, twice.

    Well, somebody had to do it. (none / 0) (#47)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sun Jan 22, 2017 at 11:50:16 AM EST
    Trump and his minions decry political correctness. Madonna's just giving them what they want.

    Parent
    IMO (none / 0) (#52)
    by BackFromOhio on Sun Jan 22, 2017 at 07:33:36 PM EST
    what Madonna did was looking for attention.  i think her f-bombs were inappropriate and unnecessary.

    Parent
    And... (none / 0) (#56)
    by Repack Rider on Sun Jan 22, 2017 at 11:17:43 PM EST
    what Madonna did was looking for attention.

    Without conceding her motive, which you do not speak for, that would not set her apart from all the other attention seekers being asked on national TV for their opinion.

    i think her f-bombs were inappropriate and unnecessary.

    Didn't you say she was looking for attention?  You are giving her some, which contradicts your statement.

    Parent

    I think (none / 0) (#5)
    by Ga6thDem on Sat Jan 21, 2017 at 02:06:39 PM EST
    the number of people who have shown up has surprised everybody. I follow pantsuit nation on facebook and even places that are deep red and states that are deep red are having people show up and protest. I'm so glad to see so many women standing up and saying we will hold you accountable for what Republicans do over the next two years.

    I've never seen this many people (none / 0) (#19)
    by CST on Sat Jan 21, 2017 at 04:41:59 PM EST
    In my life.  Marches are not for the claustrophobic.  No idea how you would get a count of the people, since people were crammed into all the neighboring streets as well.

    That's what a friend (none / 0) (#23)
    by Ga6thDem on Sat Jan 21, 2017 at 05:34:11 PM EST
    of mine said. She said they thought they were marching with the crowd and then they got to another area and there was another huge crowd and then there were people spilling out of side streets. She said it was crazy and exciting and then something about how she couldn't make it to the white house and that she was so far back that she couldn't hear the speakers.

    Parent
    Need aerial photos. (none / 0) (#24)
    by caseyOR on Sat Jan 21, 2017 at 06:48:48 PM EST
    Overlay a grid. It is always an estimate, but it can get you pretty close.

    Parent
    You weren't at the 2004 March (none / 0) (#33)
    by Towanda on Sat Jan 21, 2017 at 09:17:17 PM EST
    for Women's Lives?  That brought more than 1 million to the Mall in DC.  

    Odd that there is no mention of it today -- but then, the only media covering it then were CSpan channels.

    Parent

    In 2004 (5.00 / 1) (#48)
    by CST on Sun Jan 22, 2017 at 03:46:47 PM EST
    I was a student in Pittsburgh and my uncle who lives in DC now (that I stayed with) was in Portland Oregon. To be honest this was my first time back in DC since 2002.

    I know that preliminary estimate says 500,000 but that can't be confirmed as there are no good shots from the air and no helicopters to be seen.  Also, it wasn't at the mall so it's entirely possible that there just wasn't as much space.  We were crammed like sardines on Independence Avenue.

    Parent

    Not sure of their methods ... (none / 0) (#60)
    by Yman on Mon Jan 23, 2017 at 12:04:14 PM EST
    ... but there are actually "crowd scientists" who do this kind of thing.  They put the number at a minimum of 470,000.

    Parent
    The Bernie Bro who organized a Facebook (none / 0) (#54)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Jan 22, 2017 at 08:27:53 PM EST
    Protest write in Presidential vote for Bernie keeps posting photos from the march and claiming this is "the revolution" they devised.

    She's going to be (5.00 / 1) (#55)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Jan 22, 2017 at 08:32:01 PM EST
    left out in the cold if that's what she thinks.

    Parent
    It's a He (none / 0) (#63)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Jan 30, 2017 at 08:42:44 AM EST
    Imagine that

    Parent
    What a distraction! (none / 0) (#64)
    by thomas rogan on Mon Jan 30, 2017 at 10:01:02 PM EST
    While people march and complain about sideline emotional issues, cabinet appointees are quietly being approved, as will the supreme court appointment.  Trump is a master at the game of thrones.