Are you sick of the photos yet? No? Awesome! ‘cause I got some more for you.
One year ago to the day we watched a man take the Oath of Office for a position with more power, prestige, and influence then arguably any other. He had some big shoes to fill. Obama left this country better than he found it and he did it with compassion and class. He was not perfect, but he inspired us and he challenged us to rise to the occasion. Trump on the other hand has given us fear, hate, xenophobia, and above all total, complete, jaw-dropping incompetence.
American carnage, indeed.
One year to the day later, we marched.
Again.
”Silence is no.
No is no.
Unconscious is NO.”*
“Show us what democracy looks like!”
”This is what democracy looks like!”
”No hate! No Fear!
Immigrants are welcome here!”
”Whose streets?”
”OUR STREETS!”
I’m sorry I’m not a better photographer, but what I lack in quality I made up with quantity! I took nearly 200 pictures. These are maybe not the best, but I hope they give a feel for the energy and an idea of what it felt like to stand with so many people. I understand that the official count for Los Angeles is somewhere in the neighborhood of 600,000 people. It was a little like being in the middle of an actual, physical blue wave.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated yesterday — especially to those of you who were out in the snow and cold. It was not warm in Los Angeles yesterday, but it wasn’t really that cold, either. We were in coats and sweaters and there was a bit of wind but overall it was a beautiful day. I’ve seen photos of people marching with snow on their signs and that is truly inspiring.
*This is a quote from a poem read by a woman whose name, I’m ashamed to say, I don’t know. Her words stuck with me.