The Women’s March that galvanized millions in 2017 to protest the inauguration of Donald Trump returned Saturday as the People’s March, but the crowds gathered in the nation’s capital numbered only in the thousands, a mere fraction of the sea of pink pussy hats that flooded the National Mall eight years ago.
In January 2017, the day after Trump first took office, more than 1 million demonstrators rallied in Washington to express outrage over the Republican’s history of misogynistic remarks and stand up for women’s rights. Sister marches across the U.S. and around the globe drew an estimated 3 million more.
Fast forward to 2025, as the twice-impeached Trump prepares to be sworn in again after defeating Kamala Harris, who would have been the first woman president. The People’s March, a rebranding of the Women’s March movement, mustered only tens of thousands of protesters in downtown D.C., a sign of how the tides have shifted.
A Movement Struggles to Sustain Momentum
After its blockbuster debut, the Women’s March continued as an annual event for a few years but participation steadily dwindled as divisions emerged within the progressive movement. Saturday’s relatively quiet demonstration stood in stark contrast to the raw fury unleashed in 2017.
The reality is that it’s just hard to capture lightning in a bottle. It was a really particular moment. In 2017, we had not seen a Trump presidency and the kind of vitriol that that represented.
Tamika Middleton, Managing Director, Women’s March
Some protesters still donned the iconic pink “pussy hats,” a reference to Trump’s vulgar boasts about groping women, but the sea of color was noticeably absent. Instead, marchers carried signs with messages like “Abortion rights now,” “We will not be silent,” and “Stop racism.”
Broadening the Tent Proves Challenging
Organizers hoped that renaming the event the People’s March would attract a broader coalition focused on issues like racial justice, LGBTQ+ rights, and fighting militarization, in addition to women’s rights. But bridging diverse priorities under a single umbrella comes with challenges.
Often, what [conflicting visions] does is bring change and bring in new perspectives, especially of underrepresented voices.
Jo Reger, Professor of Sociology, Oakland University
Many progressives acknowledged feeling demoralized after failing twice to defeat Trump and watching him fill the Supreme Court with conservative justices who overturned Roe v. Wade. But speakers at the rally urged the crowd to channel despair into action.
“Educate, Activate, Advocate”
The event aimed to re-energize the movement with a new mantra: “Educate, activate, advocate.” Organizers stressed that the fight was far from over, despite Trump’s return to power.
- Educate – Raise awareness about attacks on fundamental rights
- Activate – Mobilize and expand the grassroots progressive base
- Advocate – Lobby elected officials to protect civil liberties
Whether the People’s March can reignite the passion of 2017 remains to be seen. But as Donald Trump takes the oath of office once again, it’s clear that for these activists, resistance is still a rallying cry, even in diminished numbers.
