When Donald Trump first won the presidency, many shocked liberals organized significant protests the day after his inauguration in 2017, gathering approximately 2.3 million participants. The groups that arranged these marches became key players in forming local resistance networks that pushed lawmakers to resist Trump’s policies.

As President-elect Trump prepares for his inauguration once more on Monday, large crowds are expected to gather in protest, with events planned not only in Washington, D.C. but also across the country.

It remains uncertain if the protests scheduled for Saturday and Monday will reach the scale or impact of those in 2017. Nonetheless, advocacy groups have dedicated months to collaborate, hoping to harness this moment to attract more supporters to their cause.

Additionally, conservatives are organizing a rally in Washington, a “victory rally” for Trump slated for 3 p.m. Sunday at Capital One Arena. Although not officially linked to the inauguration, the annual anti-abortion “March for Life” will also take place on Friday, January 24, in the capital.

Numerous smaller protests are also planned in Washington and other cities, involving organizations such as the Democratic Socialists of America.

People’s March

The largest event, known as the People’s March, is an evolution of the 2017 Women’s March, which saw millions take to the streets over Hillary Clinton’s defeat and Trump’s controversial history of misogynistic remarks and sexual abuse allegations.

Starting at three distinct locations at 10 a.m. on Saturday in Washington, D.C., each gathering will focus on a different issue such as immigration, abortion rights, and climate change, allowing participants to engage with topics that resonate with them, according to Tamika Middleton, managing director of the Women’s March. The three gatherings will eventually come together at the Lincoln Memorial for a rally and resource fair aimed at encouraging immediate involvement in grassroots activism.

Middleton emphasized that the aim is not to replicate the Women’s March of 2017 but to create opportunities for individuals inspired to act following Trump’s re-election.

“We view this as an initial point, leading people into organizations so we can effectively respond to upcoming challenges and build the networks and communities necessary for empowerment in the next four years,” she shared.

The Women’s March is just one of over a dozen organizations backing the Washington event, along with more than 350 similar marches set to happen in cities domestically and internationally, including Columbus, Ohio, Atlanta, Telluride, Colorado, and Amarillo, Texas.

Felicia Gambino, a civic fellow with DoSomething attending the New York People’s March, expressed her desire for the march to symbolize solidarity among those concerned about the implications of Trump’s policies.

“It’s about demonstrating that ultimately we are all human, deserving of a country, a world we can believe in and look forward to—one that holds promise for a better future,” she stated.

The events on Saturday are being promoted as a “feminist-led weekend of action.” Middleton clarified that Saturday isn’t a bid to recreate the original 2017 march’s energy.

Organizers have studied past mobilization events like the Women’s March of 2017 and the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, she noted.

“We have been engaging in discussions over the past months about how to draw in participants, expand the movement, and retain supporters even after the protests end,” she explained. “One key takeaway we’ve gained from analyzing the movement landscape is the importance of enhancing our capability to keep individuals involved beyond just street demonstrations.”

Pamela Smith, chief of the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C., stated in a news conference on Monday that the People’s March is anticipated to be the largest protest related to the inauguration, although projected attendance is capped at 25,000 people.

Middleton mentioned that they have received RSVP confirmations for 50,000 individuals for the Washington event.

National Action Network

The Rev. Al Sharpton’s civil rights group, National Action Network, is staging a march starting at 10 a.m. on Monday at McPherson Square in Washington, D.C., concluding with a rally at the historic Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church located just a short walk away. This event will honor the federal holiday commemorating Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

In a video call to action, Sharpton warned that the Trump administration aims to dismantle affirmative action and undermine diversity, equity, inclusion, and abortion rights. “As he steps into the presidency with his agenda targeting our rights, we will take the oath to keep Martin Luther King’s dream alive and well,” he stated.

ANSWER Coalition

On the same Monday, the ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) Coalition is organizing rallies in about 80 cities nationwide, demanding an end to “Trump’s extreme right-wing agenda.” Alongside an 11 a.m. gathering in Washington, similar protests are scheduled in places like Chicago, Cleveland, Los Angeles, New York, Pittsburgh, and Phoenix.

According to Walter Smolarek, a spokesperson for the ANSWER Coalition, they hold a permit for 5,000 attendees in Washington.

ANSWER is a left-leaning organization that has orchestrated protests against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as other military actions by the U.S., some of which attracted hundreds of thousands of participants.

The march and rally will progress from Malcolm X Park in Washington to Black Lives Matter Plaza near the White House, both a protest against Trump and the systemic priorities of both major political parties favoring billionaire interests over social programs and climate action, as Smolarek described.

Activist Andy Thayer, who has been coordinating an event for the ANSWER Coalition in Chicago, views the upcoming march as a broader expression of frustration rather than solely an anti-Trump demonstration.

“This protest addresses issues with both major parties; they are equally part of the problem. The dissatisfaction with the political landscape is widespread,” Thayer noted.

Despite this, they chose to conclude the march at Trump Tower, as it symbolizes the new administration, Thayer added.