Resistance Movement

Anti-Trump protestors take to the streets to let the new president know they won’t take things lying down.

- Farwa Imam Ali

The “pink pussyhat” became a symbol of both dissent and empowerment across America. On January 21, millions of Americans wearing the pink-knitted hat packed streets in Washington, DC and across 600 cities in the US and on seven continents, including Antarctica. The sea of humanity that brought the US capital to a halt outshone, in spirit and numbers, the inauguration of Donald J. Trump as the 45th president of the United States on January 20. They marched for different reasons. Protection of women’s rights, health care, Islamophobia and immigration topped the list. Their message to the new president and his team was clear: the fight for the soul of America is on.

Fathers with kids on their shoulders, breast-feeding moms with diaper bags and strollers, working moms, grandparents with grandchildren holding signs that read “Now you’ve ticked off Grandma!” and people of all races, religions and skin colour packed Capitol Hill. Among them was Keena Lipsitz, 44, political science professor at Queens College in New York. “I brought my 9-year old daughter, Mika, from New Jersey to let the Republicans know they do not have a mandate,” she said. “I think the public needs to beat the war drum about how the new government’s actions will affect everyone, especially women and children.”