Saturday, January 21, 2017

This Day in History

The morning after the inauguration of the least popular incoming president in modern history, millions boarded all manner of transportation to head to their nearest (or dearest) Women's March. Many flew or took trains or buses to Washington, DC for the march there. Others went to cities near them.

The numbers are not in yet but there are estimates - almost all of which exceeded expectations.  Washington, DC expected 200,000. Estimates are that a half a million showed up. In New York City, the crowd was so large that for hours the march could not move appreciably for lack of space. The same thing happened in Chicago where organizers transformed the march into a rally - no space for people to march! Reports are that the same thing occurred in Los Angeles.

Portland ME police estimated this to be the largest demonstration they had ever encountered. Boston organizers think 150,000 attended there. People tweeted pictures of crowds in Denver, Nashville, Asheville, Atlanta, Sioux City, Phoenix, of a human chain across the Golden Gate Bridge. Across the nation they marched - in the rain in Los Angeles and the Bay Area, and in the snow in Boise and Anchorage.

There were marches and demonstrations in all 50 states and on every continent, including Antarctica. Look at this map!

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Here are a few of my favorite images from the day starting with a sea of pink pussyhats in the nation's capital.

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Paris put its message in lights.
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The Brits displayed their characteristic reserve. They had the best signs.
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My favorite Brit marched and spoke in New York and declared herself a New Yorker.

KODAK Digital Still Camera

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Helen Mirren posted “this is amazing!” (Instagram / @helenmirren
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A human traffic jam in Los Angeles.
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A human chain across the Golden Gate Bridge.
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In blinding snow in Anchorage.
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In Boise.
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Antarctica!
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Some awesome folks!
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They weren't all Democrats!  Ana Navarro posted this selfie!womens_march-01-21-17-15
A note from a flight attendant who had to work to a passenger who was attending.
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The human traffic jam on NY's 5th Avenue that lasted for hours.
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In Detroit.
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 New York City.
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This woman tweeted that she wasn't ovary-acting.
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 How bad is it?
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One guy we know brought his best friend along for his first day as a private citizen.
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His predecessor tweeted her support.


Thanks for standing, speaking & marching for our values . Important as ever. I truly believe we're always Stronger Together.

'Hope Not Fear' Indeed. And what a beautiful piece by Louisa Cannell. 👊👊🏻👊🏼👊🏽✨


I stand w/ Nora Harren, a 17-year from Boise, ID, & every person marching for our values today. Onward! ✊✊🏾✊🏽✨


There are many more wonderful images of the day here and here.

Here is a report on estimated numbers and the size and scope. These numbers are expected to be revised upwards.

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On the sidelines, this day, Donald Trump attended the National Prayer Breakfast and visited CIA HQ in Langley, VA to tell them what a yuge inauguration he had (it looked like a million - a million-and-a-half people to the guy who saw imaginary thousands in Jersey City celebrating the fall of the towers) and how spectacular the weather had been (it rained - George W. Bush struggled with a plastic poncho).  Later his Press Sec stormed into the White House press room to scold the media for telling the truth about the paltry attendance yesterday. He said this was the largest inauguration ever. Period. He took no questions and left in a huff.

The rest of the country and the free world was busy having a lovely Saturday all together.  No incidents, no arrests, and according to actress Ally Sheedy, a patrol officer told her how wonderful everyone looked.  Madonna dropped the F-bomb twice and they cheered. Everyone was included - babies in strollers and seniors in wheelchairs. It was a great day in history!

Oh! And THIS!