As soon as the news of Donald Trump’s candidacy for the 2016 Presidential election rang through people’s TV’s and laptops, America was left feeling shocked, confused, and altogether worried. As a result, hundreds of protests have taken place since his White House inauguration. These protests were held in the face of fascism, sexism, racism, homophobia, xenophobia, islamophobia, and many more terrifying traits. Here are some of the protests that have occurred since January 20th, 2017.
Inaguration Day
Historically, inauguration day has been a place for protesters to line the streets and sidewalks to voice their first amendment right. Though on this particular year, 20 different organizations applied for protest permits all around the DC area. Most of the organizations protested his immigration policies, anti-human rights narratives, or his lack of political experience. Though one of the more unique ones was the “Trump420” protest in which the crowd was handed at least 8,000 joints. This protest was a demonstration to bring awareness to the lack of support in the marijuana business by the GOP.
Women’s March on Washington
On the following day, a population three times the size of Trump’s inauguration audience showed up to voice women’s rights on the Women’s March On Washington. All your favorite celebrities showed up to talk, (or just march) about the clear contempt Trump has on women’s right to choose what should happen to their own bodies when it comes to their health. It has been estimated that 1,000 more busses were used to transport people for the women’s march than were used for the inauguration. On all seven continents of the world, women and men marched to voice their rights.
Travel Ban
During the very first couple of weeks of Trump’s presidency, he made several problematic, (and chilling) executive orders. One of those orders was the call to ban all people from seven Islamic majority countries. There has been no terrorism-related incident to provoke Trump to make such an order, no evidence of such an order being effective. After this order suddenly went into effect, lawyers and community members fled to the airports to protest the keeping of Muslim people from entering the U.S.
Administration Picks
It was reported by the Washington Post and several other news outlets that the top senior State Officials all resigned in an effort to protest the Trump administration at the end of January. However it has since been discovered that the four officials were asked to resign in an order to, “clean house” leaving decisions up to Rex Tillerson, Trump’s pick for Secretary of State. This mass resignation is under question because of the timely fashion in which it took place, (i.e. right before the Muslim ban order.)
Sciences and the Environment
There is another march scheduled in April for scientists to voice their concerns about the current administration’s dismissal of science in the White House. Trump has planned to rid of the Environmental Protection Agency, as well as pull out of the Paris climate agreement that is 175 countries strong. Scientists hope to stress their belief that any environmentally related order should be made upon evidence.