Demonstrations in Washington ahead of Donald Trump’s swearing-in

Less than 48 hours before the inauguration of Donald Trump as head of the United States, a protest march took place in the American capital, as in 2017, when the Republican candidate entered the White House. However, a sign that the anti-Trump movement seems to be running out of steam, this march brought together fewer people than the half a million in 2017.

Baptized People’s Marchthis demonstration was organized by several civil rights and social justice groups, including the team behind the “Women’s Marches” on January 21, 2017 across the country, the day after the first inauguration of Donald Trump.

This year, the crowd was much smaller than the expected 50,000 participants, only a tenth of the size of the first march.

Among those interviewed, one could sense a mix of worry and urgency.

Under a light rain, Susan Dutwells, who came from Florida with her daughter for this demonstration, said be afraid and be angry because of the return of Donald Trump. Many people vote against their own interests. I don’t understandadded this 60-year-old woman.

The participants in this march are demonstrating for a series of causes, according to them threatened by Donald Trump, for example access to abortion, the fight against global warming or even the defense of the rights of immigrants.

I have the feeling that this is the last right to defend democracy […]. I hope we can come out of these four years intact, but I doubt itunderlined another demonstrator.

The only way to preserve our democracy is to stick together.

Sarah Kong, a 31-year-old psychiatrist, said she felt motivated and stimulated by all these people. I have faith in the future, even if I am afraid.

Some tensions with pro-Trump people

Protesters gathered in Washington squares before the march, beating drums and shouting chants under slate gray skies and cold wind. They then marched to the Lincoln Memorial, holding signs with slogans such as Let’s save America et Hate will not win.

The march stopped briefly when a man wearing a red hat Make America Great Again and a green camouflage backpack headed toward a line of protesters at the front. Police intervened and peacefully separated him from the group as protesters chanted We won’t take the bait.

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As protesters approached the Washington Monument, a small group of men wearing hats MAGA and who were walking in the opposite direction appeared to attract the attention of a protest leader with a megaphone.

The leader moved closer to the group and began chanting No Trump, no KKK in the megaphone. The groups were separated by high black fences and the police eventually gathered around them.

In 2017, women outraged by Mr. Trump’s presidential victory rallied in Washington, in addition to holding large rallies in cities across the country, building the basis of a grassroots movement that became known as of Women’s March.

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A much smaller crowd this time

The 2017 Washington rally alone attracted more than 500,000 demonstrators, while millions more participated in local marches across the country, marking one of the largest single-day protests in history of the United States.

This year, the organizers of the march expected that there would be ten times fewer demonstrators. They also recognize a certain waning of resistance to Donald Trump and admit that they will need to change strategy over the next four years.

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We are elsewhere today. In 2017, the anger was on another level. Since then, this country and our movement have changed: we do not focus on the number of participants here, but rather on the number of people mobilized every dayTamika Middleton, executive director of the Women’s March, told -. She confided that many activists felt tiredincluding herself.

Other similar demonstrations were planned across the country, notably in New York.

The context this year is very different since Donald Trump won the popular vote during the election and will count on the majority in Congress.

The future 47^e President of the United States will be sworn in at the Capitol on Monday at noon. The one who is still, for two days, the president-elect is expected Saturday evening in Washington for a reception in one of its golf courses and for a fireworks display.

With information from Yasmine Mehdi

With information from Agence France-Presse and Associated Press