In the late morning hours of Jan. 18, 2025, a few thousand protesters gathered in Seattle’s Cal Anderson Park for the purpose of marching through Seattle to show (in their own words) “a powerful call to action for those ready to make a difference.”

It was quite foggy out as I was riding the light rail up to make it to the march. I had no idea what to expect. The dates of when the ‘official’ event was going to be held was shaky at best. Some dates said ‘day of inauguration’ while this one was scheduled on the 18th. Turnout was hard to predict as well. I didn’t get the memo of Jan. 18, and the only way I found out was by personally looking into it and even then, I was given mixed signals. 

The Women’s March was the single largest day of protest in United States history up to its point. Held in January 2017, millions around the world gathered in support and defense of the rights of many, which were seen as challenged by then-elected president Donald Trump, who, during his election campaign, had made numerous disparaging comments against women, immigrants, and people of color. 

Now it’s eight years later, Donald Trump has been voted back into power, but this time the majority of people wanted him.

When I finally arrived at Cal Anderson, the march was just starting. It was a large crowd–the streets were packed for blocks. I started snapping photos around this time. Some heavy chanting among the crowd along with quite the drum circle. 

Nothing new either; the same old ‘No Trump, no KKK, no fascist USA,’ and things like that. Honestly, the best chant I’d seen that day was some nunnery looking woman in red instead approaching the crowd down at Westlake simply screeching, or some in between that and yodeling. 

And that isn’t some sort of diss on her either. I am genuinely saying that was the most pure put together sign of unity that I’d seen all day. Shiny black leather gloves up towards the sky. Eagle screeching – the crowd screeches back with that growing crescendo.

The march turned north from Westlake and aimed towards the Seattle center. It was here when I started to notice something. Among the hundred or so waves of the crowd only two or three people within these waves were people of my age, the Gen-Z type, aging from 18 to 25. There were some definitely there, but really was little to no turnout from the age group. Most of the people I saw were millennial aged and up, along with their families. 

I was able to catch a few interviews with various people around the march during this time. Most of the women I talked to had a pretty clear and concise reason for being there – often women and immigrant’s rights, though one woman concisely said her reasons were on “a list that’s too long to write.” The few men I attempted to interview were shifty and awkward, one mentioning protecting the constitution and liberty before scurrying off. 

As the march finally got to Seattle center, one of the event volunteers was yelling over a microphone, “Good job! Thank you for coming!” The marchers began spreading out and unpacking lunches, while I saw a few others selling trinkets off of plastic tables. I started to leave and thought about how convenient it would’ve been if I had brought my whole family, so that we could go to the art museum, which was right there. 

I ran into a couple of the drummers after the event and asked them what brought them out there, to which they confidently spouted, “Well that’s what we do.” 

One of the drummers said, “We are a Bamala Brazilian drum and dance group…we support women, obviously, it’s half of our group…when it goes to direct political stuff, showing support for a cause, we’re gonna keep it zipped.”

Political Burnout

The attendance was never going to be as large as the one back in 2017. Why? Roe v. Wade, arguably one of the most important issues to feminists and the left in general, has been overturned. Is this why? Trump getting the majority vote? Is the fight over? Has the left lost? In Lauren Leader’s article for ‘The Hill,’ she asked multiple feminist leaders their plans for a march against the presidency. 

“Multiple women leaders of left-leaning or non-profit women’s organizations who I have reached out to since the election have said they have no interest in participating in the next women’s march, scheduled for Jan. 18, 2025, nor did they know others who planned to participate. All asked for anonymity for fear of alienating funders or colleagues, but responses ranged from a declarative ‘f-that’ to a more thoughtful take that marching would be ‘performative.’Overall, the consensus among the dozen leaders I spoke with was that it was a ‘bad idea.’”

Nearly a decade ago after all that was protested and stood up for is now being shotgun signed in executive order, shot out rapid fire rewriting everything a record breaking amount of people left their homes to protect. According to Leader’s article, these movements have understood that simply telling the government that ‘they don’t agree’ isn’t working anymore and that direct action is required. 

Here’s hoping.