The meeting takes place in the center of Washington (United States), 48 hours before a new Trump presidency. At the entrance to Franklin Park, pink, fuschia and purple hats color the procession gathered under a white sky, Saturday January 18. Eight years ago, these same “pussy hats” became the symbol of the feminist fight against gender inequalities and sexism, starting with that of the Republican president. Their struggle resumes, at the dawn of his return to power.
“I can’t believe I’m still protesting,” we read on a sign displayed by a demonstrator, under the onset of freezing rain. Like her, thousands of opponents of Donald Trump took to the streets of the capital on Saturday to proclaim their rejection of the policies defended by the populist leader. Access to abortion, social justice, rights of LGBT+ people, climate… The participants of this People's March united their voices and their causes by walking in step.
“I know this is not an easy time,” agrees an organizer, her voice carried over the speakers. But “it is our duty to fight”, says one of her acolytes, inviting the crowd to head towards the Lincoln Memorial, nearly three kilometers to the west. The procession sets off into the political and administrative heart of the United States. “New year, same fight”,notes one of the many signs.
This very wintery morning, Beth Nackley, 62, came from North Carolina to take part in her first demonstration, she who is usually “an introvert”. “It’s not easy for me to be here, but it’s important,” points out the American, very worried about the rights of women to control their bodies. As a lesbian, she also fears the decline in the rights of LGBT+ people, such as access to marriage for same-sex couples. “It is discouraging to have to continue the fight,”regrets the demonstrator under her pink hat, an American Planned Parenthood scarf around her neck.
Alongside him, his niece, Jocelyn Nackley, made the trip from upstate New York. “I feel invigorated and ready to not let myself get down,”assures this thirty-year-old with a combative tone, committed to the right to abortion. “I'm tired of staying silent” she says, describing the “very bad dream” what is this new Trump era for her.
“Defend yourself! (…) We will not go back!”chants a mostly female crowd, two streets behind the White House. Wrestling slogans echo around Paige Bailey, a “pussy hat” on her head. The American, who has already demonstrated against firearms, does not hide her discouragement since the election of Donald Trump. “I still can't believe he got re-elected. We are more racist and misogynistic than we think.” The fifty-year-old, who works with migrants, already fears the president's very hard and xenophobic line on the subject.
“It's exhausting. I don't know how I'm going to make it through the next four years.”
Paige Bailey, protesterat franceinfo
As they advance towards the Lincoln Memorial, the demonstrators blithely say that they “emmerdent Donald Trump” and that this one “must go”. A few Trumpists in red caps, spotted along the procession, are booed by the crowd.
-History repeats itself in Washington. Eight years earlier, hundreds of thousands of opponents of Donald Trump launched a pink tide in the city during the Women's March. The demonstration continues this Saturday, even if it brings together much fewer people.
Lori and Mary, in their sixties and friends since university, were there in 2016. They who “have been manifesting since [leur] youth” and defend the right to abortion. Mary admits to having “less hope” that in January 2017, and sees left-wing voters today “demoralized, defeated. “But when we are beaten, we must get up again”, she defends, supported by Lori.
“We are tired, but we must fight. We must fight for our ideals, even when the situation seems hopeless.”
Lori, protesterat franceinfo
As the “People's March” advances towards the Lincoln Memorial, the speeches follow one another, with social and racial justice, the rights of women and minorities as a common thread. The tone is combative. “We must fight against our own despair!” insists Rachel O'Leary Carmona, director of the Women's March organization. Raquel Willis, trans woman from the Gender Liberation Movement, promises that “we will take up space”. “Disobey! Disobey!”, launches an activist in turn, her slogan echoed by the crowd.
A gathering that does good for May, 45, a midwife worried about the health and access to care of American women. She also demonstrated for their rights eight years ago. “When you have a big movement and you find yourself back where you started, it’s obviously discouraging,”agrees the demonstrator. “But there is energy today. There is a commitment to resistance.”On its scale, it will continue to raise “two feminist boys”and to defend access to care for its patients over the coming years. Will she become more involved? “I think I need to get over the dismay. And take action.”
