marching for all of us

"We stand together in solidarity for the protection of our rights, our safety, our health, and our families — recognizing that our vibrant and diverse communities are the strength of our country. 

In the spirit of democracy and honoring the champions of human rights, dignity, and justice who have come before us, we join in diversity to show our presence in numbers too great to ignore. 

We stand together, recognizing that defending the most marginalized among us is defending all of us." 
 -- Women's March Los Angeles Mission Statement

Aerial view of #womensmarchla January 21, 2017 (Obviously not my photo.. I think this is from NCB4)

Saturday morning, at 7:45am, I joined my friends James and Linda and headed to the Universal Studio City metro station. We were going downtown to join the Women's March. I've never been to a political march before. I had no idea what to expect, and just hoped that there would be more of my like-minded people there to over-chant any opposing people. I hoped no one would get violent. And, bitchily, I hoped that worldwide more people would show up than had shown up at the inauguration the day before.

Well, based on the crowds of people milling about above the escalator to the underground metro tracks, any fears we had about a low turnout were immediately wiped away. The parking lot was also full... 2+ hours before the march was supposed to start. Luckily, James works across the street at Universal, so we parked at his office and then began the first trek of the day -- across the Universal/Lankershim pedestrian bridge -- and down to the trains.

When the first train headed downtown arrived from the one previous stop in North Hollywood, it was packed. No room for us. So we waved as it pulled away and waited for the next one. As it started to pull up, everyone on the platform cheered. We went to the front car and managed to get standing room in the aisle. Others followed us and soon our car was packed. And the one behind us and the one behind that. The conductor said the doors in the last car wouldn't close. People were packed in too close. After three or four requests, people moved and the doors closed. We were on our way...

When we pulled into the next stop -- Hollywood and Highland -- more people attempted to get on. Some did. Our car became a sardine can of humanity. But everyone was in good spirits so we cheered again as the train pulled away. Then, stop after stop, we looked sadly at all the people waiting on the platforms only to be denied entry. I doubt there has ever been a busier day on the LA underground Metro trains. It was like being in New York at rush hour. When we arrived at the 7th St/Metro stop, we had to force our way out of said-sardine can... all the downtown newbies were taking the train direct to Pershing Square stop (the next one) because that's where the march was starting. We decided to be rebels and walk three extra blocks, and hopefully find caffeine on the way...

All the people who didn't want to get off the train at 7th Street, and instead mass-exited into the mass of people in Pershing Square. 

Well, there would be no caffeine for me. The line at the Starbucks on the corner of 6th and Grand was about 100 people long. But, in the first of what would be many pleasant encounters that day, there were people handing out free water, bagels and coffee on the corner. If I liked coffee, I would've been set, but I don't so I gave up that idea and walked down the street towards Pershing Square. We made it as far as the first crosswalk at Olive and 6th a block away, where we stood for at least the next 45 minutes. 

We were surrounded by women and men, young people and old people, parents with kids in strollers and kids pushing their parents or grandparents in wheelchairs. All races seemed to be in attendance. Many, many people were holding signs (more on that later). And I've never been in a such a huge, crowd but felt so safe. The people in this crowd were more respectful than most people you meet in a given day... saying "Excuse me," "Sorry," and "Thank you" as they tried to work through the crowd to find their friends. They feeling was positive, hopeful and defiant at the same time.

                                       

Everyone was united in their mission -- to exercise our 1st Amendment rights to tell the new administration we won't stand by quietly as the president bullies, gaslights and disrespects just about everyone who's not a rich, white, male... and as he and his lackeys attempt to set the progress of the last eight years -- in terms of human rights and climate change -- back four decades.



About 45 minutes later we inched into the intersection. But as 10am came and went, we didn't really move. There was no where to march to. There were so many people there the crowds were gridlocked. Eventually people starting going in non-march route directions. We made our way into Pershing Square proper, and word started to filter through the crowd that City Hall was already packed and we wouldn't fit if we marched there.

We debated leaving... it was 11am by that point. But we ended up marching back the way we came down 6th Street, then we joined a crowd heading up Grand Ave. towards the Music Center and Grand Park. There were people with drums. There was an actual organized group (Citizens For Civil Discourse) chanting multiple different slogans.. the most repeated of the day being "Hey Hey, Ho, Ho. Donald Trump has got to go," "Love Trumps Hate" and "This is what democracy looks like." When we reached 5th and Grand, it was a just a sea of people looking down both streets. It was really amazing!

Marchers cross the intersection of 5th and Grand Ave. in Downtown LA near LA Central Library (in the background.) Love the "No More Mr Nice Gay" and "Free Melania" signs. There were MANY "Free Melania" signs yesterday....

People for blocks from Grand Ave. down 5th Street to the other side of Pershing Square.

A sea of people united goes for blocks and blocks down Grand Ave. in Downtown LA. This wasn't the official route. We had to break off and head up Hope in order to escape the human gridlock surrounding Pershing Square and head towards Grand Park and City Hall.

I had to leave at noon to go meet my new baby niece in Lake Elsinore. So I never made it to the finish line at City Hall. (By the number of people I saw having early lunches on my way back to the metro with their signs sitting in restaurant windows, it's safe to say I wasn't the only one who didn't make it there.)

But I left feeling incredibly inspired and hopeful by the smart, creative, respectful people making up that crowd of 750,000 Los Angelinos.  (More than at the inauguration and 250,000 more than the March in DC!)

And since we didn't do a ton of actual marching, the day actually turned into a "who has the coolest protest sign" photo opportunity for the three of us. They were all so creative and funny and serious and thoughtful. Made me feel kinda lame about my sign...

Here are many of the signs I saw and loved yesterday (did I say there were many?) ;)  

And my favorite marchers of the day with their signs...

Finally, here's a link to the New York Times, showing images from the Women's March around the world.

Sadly, since I left the march yesterday, the current administration appears to have started using George Orwell's 1984 as a playbook, instead of the cautionary tale it was intended as. They are directly attacking freedom of the press and spouting tales of "alternative truth" bs. I have a feeling I'm going to be needing more signs... (and the LA Metro is going to need a LOT more trains!)