.
if you have a seat in your car you can offer someone looking to march in DC this weekend, check out https://t.co/0hIxUedqPy
— Caro (@socarolinesays) January 16, 2017
Advice for the locals, from the Washington Post:
Thousands of people are expected to be in the region Saturday for the Women’s March on Washington, an event that could draw larger crowds than Inauguration Day itself, and present travel challenges for participants and residents.
Drivers will encounter day-long— and rolling— road closures near the Mall and public transit users should expect long waits at Metro stations and crowding on platforms and trains…
Metro announced Wednesday that trains will start running at 5 a.m. and up to two dozen trains will be added to accommodate the crowds. (The transit agency had originally said it would run regular Saturday service, which meant stations opening at 7 a.m.)
Demonstrators will gather for a rally at 3rd Street and Independence Avenue on the morning after the transfer of power to president-elect Donald Trump. The crowds will then march along the National Mall to The Ellipse, near the Washington Monument. Thousands of people are expected at the event, which organizers say is not a protest but a way to “promote women’s equality and defend other marginalized groups.”
The location: The stage will be on 3rd Street and Independence Avenue by the National Museum of the American Indian.
The program:
8 a.m.— activities start with images and video on display.
9 a.m. — pre-rally with speakers, music and public service announcements.
10 a.m. — the official rally starts, featuring celebrities including Katy Perry, Cher, America Ferrera and Uzo Aduba
1 p.m. — participants start marching toward The Ellipse where the program will end.The March route: The group will begin to walk from the gathering location around 1 p.m. and march west on Independence Avenue SW, from 3rd Street SW, to 14th Street SW; then will turn north on 14th Street SW to Constitution Avenue NW; and will march west on Constitution Avenue NW to 17th Street NW, near the Ellipse and Washington Monument, where the events will come an end…
More information on parking, public transit, bike routes, and a list of banned items at the link.
Anybody who takes photos they want to share — either in DC, or at the Sister Marches — send them to me or TaMara and we’ll put them on the front page.
ETA, by request: Here’s Adam Silverman’s post on ‘Peaceful Assembly and Personal Security‘.
More free downloadable @womensmarch posters, this time by @dirtybandits and @PaperJamPress https://t.co/IB7kGlmf14
— Tina Roth Eisenberg (@swissmiss) January 13, 2017
Mnemosyne
Even here in Los Angeles, Metro is warning bus and train riders to expect huge crowds.
Also, I’ve been talking up The Pussyhat Project — that’s the link to the actual project website. They have knitting, crochet and sewing patterns to make your very own pussyhat for Saturday. I made 4 with super bulky yarn and it was dead easy — no shaping required since it’s square at the top to create the ears.
guachi
I’m going! I may have to drive 9 hours Friday afternoon to get to DC, but I’ll be there.
Turns out I have a number of good little liberal friends from high school (graduate 25 years ago) who will be at various events. I’ll get to see two of them in DC, if I can find them.
Should be fun!
And it will make a nice contrast to being at Obama’s inauguration in uniform. I remember it being very cold, that Obama (who got out of his car in front of me at the Navy Memorial) is tall, that Michelle is tall, that both the Biden’s are tall. And that the Cadillac Obama was in had lots and lots of weapons in the back seat.
SiubhanDuinne
Because of my long-standing commitment to the Met’s Live in HD transmission on Saturday, I will unfortunately not be able to march in person. But loud huzzahs, great respect, and enormous support to all of you who are participating, either in Washington or nearer your own home.
Walk proudly and in solidarity. I’m there with you in spirit, every step of the way.
dedc79
Downtown DC today has the feel of one of those sci-fi/horror movies where there’s a curfew and people need to rush in doors before the sun goes down and the zombies and/or vampires come out.
Major Major Major Major
I’m excited and I’m not even going.
Anne, can you link to Adam’s post on personal security at protests again? It can’t be emphasized enough, IMO.
raven
@SiubhanDuinne: Sposed to pour.
clay
Do you guys remember the original debates over Obamacare? Way back in 2009, the Tea Party was on the rise, people were raging in townhall meetings, Republicans were refusing to negotiate, and it was up in the air as to whether anything would actually get passed.
The Dems were forced to negotiate with their own members like Ben Nelson and Joe Lieberman, who for various (dickish) reasons wanted to water down various aspects of the bill. The Purity Caucus of the left was incensed, decrying the ACA as a sellout to insurance companies, and demanding that we (somehow) pass single payer instead.
The more practical (and historical)-minded liberals were begging, pleading for them to pass something, anything; the notion being that once the bill was passed, and people started receiving benefits, then it would be in place for good, and future generations to fix it and expand it. But even after it passed, it seemed that the public never really latched on to Obamacare, except for a very vocal segment who were against it.
But now… Now that their benefits are being threatened, it seems that people are finally realizing that they really enjoy having Obamacare around. Now we have Republicans getting reamed out at townhall meetings. Now we have Republicans saying, uh well gee, I don’t know how to get rid of this thing.
Obviously, the future is still in doubt. They could still repeal it, easily. But I think (hope) that they’re starting to realized that people’s lives depend on this, and there will be a price to pay for repeal.
This has been on my mind as we approach the shitshow…. A reminder that a long-term approach is best, that seeds planted now can fully blossom years later, in ways that we can’t predict.
Safe travels to everyone going to D.C.
rikyrah
@Mnemosyne:
I find that so cute.
SiubhanDuinne
@raven:
Yeah, looks like thunderstorms all weekend. I have opera on Saturday and ballet on Sunday, so I’ll mostly be inside.
Spanky
@raven: Latest from NWS:
ETA: That’s for Downtown DC, btw.
rikyrah
@clay:
We have to fight. I’m fighting for the 20 million helped. I have to. We can’t give up and go back to the bad old days. Too many will die.
Major Major Major Major
@clay: It’s even a good sign that the ‘replace’ part of their never-actually-a-plan ‘repeal and replace’ plan has become gospel. Health insurance is a right now.
? Martin
Here’s one of the fights that CA will be facing.
CA has generally been granted that waiver because our emissions laws are older than the Clean Air Act, and one thing we got in the Clean Air Act (benefits of the President at the time being from CA, I suppose) is that states were basically given a choice to follow either the federal regulations or California’s – that’s still there. Effectively, CA has more authority to set air standards than other states do, and the same authority as the feds in at least some cases. But the Bush administration didn’t grant the waiver to CA, but CA sued and won. Since the EPA has also won their supreme court case that they can regulate CO2 emissions, CA can presumably sue the feds (on top of the previous reasons) for not upholding the Clean Air Act by failing to allow CA to regulate emissions that the EPA refuses to. Those cases are usually winnable.
What CA needs is for other states to get on board. The original case against the EPA came from MA during the Bush admin and resulted in carbon emissions and other greenhouse gases being recognized by the court as pollution, and therefore under the Clean Air Act. Other states need to sign onto California’s emissions regulations and force the feds hand. This is a winnable fight. If a few other large markets can sign on, then automakers won’t bother trying to sell non-compliant cars in the US because it’ll be too expensive to do. CA, by virtue of market size, will set the standard for the nation.
CA’s ZEV policy is presumably also under threat. We require that 15% of vehicles sold in 2025 be zero emissions. Some other states have signed onto our previous goal of 10%. We need more states to either meet or exceed CAs mandate. We need to achieve through economics what the feds refuse to do via policy. It would be nice if other states signed onto our cap and trade program, if they set emission reduction goals that matched CAs (and which are roughly in line with the Paris Agreement standard set for the US), and so on.
They claim they want to leave these things to the states to decide, but they’re really only thinking about Texas which puts out 4x the greenhouse emissions as CA per dollar of economic output. When a state wants to do more, it’s tyranny all over again. States need to stand up now. Voters outside of CA need to demand these things from their state governments, and demand that their state AGs join lawsuits to defend those policies. You don’t need to invent the policies – just sign on to CAs policies as we’ve already made the investments in studying these things.
raven
@Spanky: We’re talking about the ATL.
Spanky
@raven: And I’m talking about DC
Comrade Colette Collaboratrice
I’ll be at the San Francisco march with a bunch of friends and coworkers, as well as our various husbands, partners, and kids. I’ve got the pus5yhats all lined up and I just printed some of the Shepherd Fairey posters. I’ll even try to get hold of a green helium balloon ahead of time, too. If crowds allow, my friends and I will rendezvous at Philz Coffee at Larkin St. and Golden Gate Ave. at about 4:45 (rally starts at 3:00, but I don’t have the stamina for both rally and march). Join us!
? Martin
It’s worth pointing out the results of CAs regulations here. In the mid 1970s, LA had 125 stage 1 smog alert days per year. About one day in 3 was a smog alert. We haven’t had a single stage 1 smog alert in a decade, and we have 12 million more people in the state. Now, estimates are that about 3,000 people in CA die each year due to respiratory problems related to pollution. So, even with that massive amount of progress, we have a lot more still to do. The health care cost of treating people from this pollution is not considered in most analysis, but one of the better ways to help reduce health care spending is to improve health – and clean air, water, eliminating smoking, and so on are all important ways to do that. In CA, clean energy and ZEVs is how we get clean air, and clean air is how we lower health spending. These are things that other states need to sign onto. Pushing the feds is probably pointless right now, but if you have a democratic governor and/or legislature, push them hard now.
Mnemosyne
@SiubhanDuinne:
May I urge you to wear pink and/or kitty ears in solidarity? I’m committed to going to Disneyland on Saturday, but I think I’ve figured out how to Disney Bound my support: pink long-sleeve thermal shirt under a white “Star Wars” shirt featuring Rey drawn in pink lines, topped with a hand-knit pussyhat.
ETA: Hey, I found a picture of the actual shirt! It’s not my usual style, but I got it off the clearance rack for $10.
darrel wright
@clay: Great post. Long game. There’s a reason Obama isn’t spouting and sulking and is tending to fall more on the “peaceful transfer of power” side- because the next one is ours, and it’s probably not as far off as it feels. The Trumpistas should be given all the rope they need to hang themselves.
Though I admit we have to worry that it might be enough to hang us too.
MomSense
@Mnemosyne:
I’m bringing 5 more to a yarn shop in Portland this afternoon. It has been really fun to see all the photos on IG.
? Martin
@Mnemosyne: I’d wait until you are inside the park for the hat. That’s something likely to get stopped at the gate.
Spanky
Few of us would consider PA SEN Bob Casey a Leader, but:
More at the link.
First (?) out of the gate.
Mnemosyne
@rikyrah:
I sent them to two commenters here — hopefully they’ll post pictures.
And I linked to a photo yesterday of a van from Dragonfly Fibers (an indie dyeing company) getting ready to drive a van full of 5,400 donated hats to DC.
It is genuinely going to be huge. Don’t piss off knitters and crocheters, Donald, because you WILL live to regret it. ?
hovercraft
Lena Waithe: Michelle Obama Made Me Proud to Be a Black Woman
From ELLE
With the Obamas officially on their way out of the White House, one person hit hard by the loss is Master of None’s Lena Waithe.
“I feel horrible! I hate it!” Waithe told ELLE.com at the ELLE Women in Television event in Los Angeles. “I don’t know if I can explain the connective tissue I feel to that family. When I get nervous I look at pictures of Barack Obama and Michelle Obama about how to be and how to walk in the world, how to hold my head high. Michelle Obama is a queen, in a word, and I honor her. She makes me proud to be a black woman. She, to me, is up there with Jackie Kennedy.”
The actor and writer had tweeted, “Say what you want about the southside of Chicago, but just remember it produced Michelle Obama!” Particularly apropos, since Showtime just picked up The Chi, the show she wrote about life on the South Side, where she (and Michelle Obama) grew up. “It’s exciting,” Waithe said. “Showtime-they’ve been so phenomenal. It’s not lost on me how historic it is. There hasn’t been a black drama on Showtime, so no pressure!”
But she’s more than up for the challenge. And she is particularly driven to show people the reality behind the South Side’s negative image. “I really want to get it right,” she said. “There’s been a lot said about the city…the dehumanization of the African-American man, particularly on the South Side of Chicago, so I just want to humanize them and show the humans behind the headlines. Just because the city happens to be riddled with violence doesn’t mean those lives aren’t valid.”
Waithe has her own unwelcome experience of working against stereotype. “There are times where I feel like I can be shut out, or someone can not want to include me in things because I’m a black woman,” she said, “and I’ve felt it a lot. It’s a weird feeling and it’s not fun, but I always found a way to rise above it. I think the best way to do that is to do the work, to put my head down and continue to be the best. That’s the way to really rise above prejudice. The fact that we have to run twice as fast to get half as far is still an unfortunate reality of this world, but that doesn’t stop us from running, it doesn’t stop us from being the best, the strongest, the greatest, because if that’s what we’ve got to do to inspire the next generation, then let’s do it.”
Every time Waithe has felt sidelined or ignored, it just pushed her to work harder. “You have to be the greatest. It’s not always fun but the reason why Beyoncé is Beyoncé is because she’s frickin’ Beyoncé! She’s like, ‘I’ve got to be phenomenal to get to this level’-same with Michelle Obama.”
Many of us first fell for Waithe when she took on the role of the scene-stealingly charismatic Denise in Master of None. In April, fans will get another binge-worthy dose-this time with a key episode cowritten by Waithe, and guest star Angela Bassett playing Denise’s mom, an experience Waithe said was “phenomenal.”
All in all, Waithe is definitely her own woman. But she’s not upset when people call her “the black Lena Dunham.” “Eventually I’ll be called just ‘the regular Lena Waithe,'” she said, “but until then, it’s a compliment. I love Lena so much. I’m so excited about the last season of Girls.”
Chris
@clay:
Thanks. I’m going to need it. I need to go through downtown to go to work tomorrow, which ought to be… interesting!
TaMara (HFG)
Denver peeps, I’m going to try and find a green balloon on the way down to the city Saturday. No promises, but if you see one, it’s probably me or another BJ person. Say howdy!
Mnemosyne
@? Martin:
We’ll see — the semi-official policy of the Giant Evil Corporation is “Fuck Trump,” so they would probably turn a blind eye unless another guest raised a fuss. But I may wait until my head gets cold inside the gates.
SiubhanDuinne
@Mnemosyne:
Oh yes, I’ll be wearing my “Women’s March on Washington” tee (the one with the pink-black-white silhouette profiles) and a dark pink jacket. Will be very curious to see reactions from all the old white people who are the core opera audience here :-)
Calouste
@ Martin:
In comparison, Norway has the goal that all new cars, buses and light commercial vehicles in 2025 should be zero emission vehicles.
Calming Influence
Dear Balloon Juice,
I’m marching in Seattle with a group of friends, and I’m afraid my message will be lost in the crowd. I’m going to be wearing a clown suit with a pink hat, a Guy Fawkes mask, a giant foam middle finger in one hand and a “Free Tiffany!” sign in the other. Is there anything I can do to punch it up a little?
–Tragically Sincere in Seattle
Starfish
Some people were suggesting Fire Chat app for when the networks fall down, but it is a little buggy.
Major Major Major Major
@Calming Influence: Puppets. Giant puppets.
@Starfish: Ooh, mesh networks!
Betty Cracker
I’m finally feeling a little excited about the trip to DC and the march — heretofore, I’ve viewed it as a grim duty. But, road trip with my girls, joining thousands in opposition to Sunkist Stalin, DC in January? What’s not to love? (Aside from spending 30 hours in a car over a 3-day weekend…)
clay
@Mnemosyne: @Mnemosyne:
Can you imagine how awful it must be for the Imagineers who have to make the Trump-bot for the Hall of Presidents? I hope they make his hands microscopic and his skin neon orange.
Spanky
@Starfish:
Mnemosyne
@Calming Influence:
What, no pussyhat? Why do you hate women and democracy?!?! ?
opiejeanne
@Major Major Major Major: They’re making at least 10 giant puppets for the Seattle March. I am not sure if I am embarrassed or not yet because the puppets I saw mentioned were supposed to be Rosa Parks and Helen Keller. They didn’t mention the names of the other puppets but I’m just betting there’s going to be a Wilmer.
20 feet wide and 12 feet tall. Puppets.
Betty Cracker
@opiejeanne: WTF is up with the puppet thing? I truly do not get it.
HeleninEire
I’ll send pics from Dublin’s City Center march. It’s right down the street from my apartment. Very excited to attend.
clay
@Betty Cracker: It’s theater? I guess? Because a lot of liberals tend to be artsy-types who think of everything in those terms?
I wish folks to take a cue from the Civil Rights marches, when everyone took the care to look as damned respectable as they could. Optics matter, people!
Shana
@dedc79: I imagine it does. Hubby sez his office at F and 10th has liberal leave today. Not that we care since we got out last Saturday for a weeks vacation.
Major Major Major Major
@opiejeanne: How… do you know this?
Mingobat f/k/a Karen in GA
Taking one of many Let’s Skedaddle buses from Atlanta. 10 hours on the bus, marching all day, then 10 hours back on the bus. And I don’t sleep well in vehicles — buses, planes, etc. Should be interesting.
I ordered an Atlanta march t-shirt before I decided to go to DC, so I’ll wear that. No pussy hat.
Mnemosyne
@opiejeanne:
I also do not understand the giant puppets thing. I suppose we will need to thank our lucky stars if they’re confined to Seattle.
On the other hand, Seattle yarn stores are sold out of pink yarn, so there should be a lot of pussyhats on display as well.
MomSense
@Mnemosyne:
Purrfect.
randy khan
Reposting information on what you can carry with you during the march in D.C. (I don’t know what the rules are for other places) from an earlier thread, with a link to the big FAQ for the march:
Key points: (1) No bags bigger than 8″x6″x4″ *except* that you can have a gallon plastic bag for food and a transparent backpack up to 17″x12″x6″; and (2) Flags, posters, and signs are okay, but no wooden poles will be allowed. (Cardboard tube sign posts are okay.)
From the FAQ:
Q: Can I bring my backpack/bag to the march?
All backpacks and bags may be subject to search at the March, and those not conforming to the standards set here may be confiscated or asked to be left behind. Backpacks are not permitted unless they are clear and no larger than 17″x12″x6″ (colored transparent bags are not permitted).
Bags/totes/purses for small personal items should be no larger than 8”x6”x4”.
Specifically for people who would like to bring meals, each marcher is permitted one additional 12”x12”x6” plastic or gallon bag.
For marchers who have medical needs or for mothers who need baby bags or breast pumps, please ensure that your supplies fit into the above clear backpack. You can have one backpack per individual in your group, as long as they abide by the above guidelines.
If you are a member of the press, covering the event officially, and have equipment that will not fit into bags of the above dimensions: please contact the National Communications Team to get press credentials in advance in order for your equipment to be allowed into the rally site.
If you require disability accommodations or related equipment, that will not fit into the above bags, please enter via the ADA Accessible route: 4th St. SW from C St. to Independence Ave. For anyone using Metro, please get off at Federal Center SW and use 4th St. to enter the rally area.
Canes, walking sticks, walkers, and portable seats are allowed for individuals who require them for mobility and accessibility on a regular basis.
Do not bring anything that can be construed as a weapon, including signage with any kind of handle (e.g. a sharpened wooden stick). We recommend also checking with your bus company if your bus will be secured during the march and if you can leave larger belongings in the bus, rather than carrying them all day.
This is the policy of the Women’s March team of organizers, security, and logistics. We ask all marchers to please cooperate with these policies and guidelines in order to ensure that this event is safe and comfortable for all attendees. We understand the environmental implications of using plastic bags and backpacks, but in this case, we believe the safety and security of the hundreds of thousands of marchers supersedes other concerns.
Q: Can we bring flags and banners?
A: Flags are allowed, but not on a pole. Posters and signs are allowed, but not with the use of wooden sign posts. Instead, we encourage people to use cardboard sign posts.
Questions and answers
Mnemosyne
@randy khan:
The cardboard core of a roll of wrapping paper should work nicely for sign handles if desired.
opiejeanne
@Major Major Major Major: http://www.king5.com/news/local/preparing-for-seattles-womens-march/386232165
PJ
@clay: Puppetphobia has no place in the progressive movement. If your protest is not truly intersectional, embracing all forms of free expression, you are no better than Trump, screaming, “No puppet! No puppet!”, and you should just stay at home while the puppet people do the hard work of protecting all our freedoms.
Major Major Major Major
@opiejeanne: Well, they did say that they’re puppets of inspirational women, so at least no Wilmer.
@PJ: LOL!
Mnemosyne
@PJ:
“If you don’t tolerate my racism, aren’t you the one being intolerant?”
And what about Cliff Richard, hm? HM?!?!
PJ
@Mnemosyne: First they came for the “Free Mumia!” people, and I did not speak out –
Because I was not a “Free Mumia!” person.
Then they came for the puppet people, and I did not speak out –
Because I was not a puppet person.
Then they came for the Bernie Bros, and I did not speak out –
Because I was not a Bernie Bro.
And then it turned out to be a fairly persuasive protest.
Major Major Major Major
@PJ: Let’s do the Black Bloc anarchists before the Free Mumia people.
Calming Influence
I’ll actually be wearing unlaced workboots with heavy wool socks, paint-spattered cargo shorts, and 2 torn sweaters over a faded Nirvana t-shirt. You know, my Seattle business suit.
Yoda Dog
“NO PUPPET! NO PUPPET! YOU’RE THE PUPPET!!!!”
Elizabelle
@PJ: You made me laugh. Thank you.
Keith G
Marching is all well and good. Hopefully all of them who are eligible will vote in two years – and shepherd at least ten of their friends to do the same.
eclare
@PJ: You win the internet today!
Calouste
Hopefully the Women’s March will have the same effect as this previous Women’s March but with less violence.
Mnemosyne
@Calouste:
As I noted above, the tricoteuses are already on board. ?
Calming Influence
@PJ: I at least spoke out for the bernie bros, but was immediately mauled by rabid pumas.
I’m not big on the sign idea (seems like a lot of work, and then you have to carry it all day, and if it can’t have a wooden stick it sucks as a weapon, etc., etc.) , but a sign like IF YOU DON’T GET PISSED OFF, YOU’RE GONNA GET PISSED ON! might be relevant…
Anne Laurie
@Betty Cracker:
Tradition! (said in a very Fiddler-on-the-Roof voice.)
It’s not supposed to make sense, it’s supposed to be aaartttt.
SgrAstar
@? Martin: Great stuff, Martin. Thanks.
Calming Influence
@Anne Laurie: Yoda Dog @ 55 above provided the clue: during a debate Clinton suggested Wilmer was acting like a “Putin puppet”. Wilmer’s very mature response: “No puppet! No puppet! You’re the puppet!”
Donna K
@Mnemosyne: Ours are sewn from fleece, but they’re still really cute! I must say, I am getting really annoyed with people like Petula Dvorak of the WaPo, who wrote a really snotty, snarky, patronizing piece dismissing the pussyhats as too juvenile and girlish, and not consonant with true seriousness of purpose. They are nothing of the kind. They are a wonderfully clever demonstration of our unity, creativity, resourcefulness, and cheerful determination to fiercely resist the Trump agenda at every turn.
opiejeanne
@Calming Influence: That wasn’t Wilmer, that was Lumpy.
opiejeanne
@Calming Influence: LOL! I’ll probably be bundled up in a plaid shirt, black jeans, and a heavy jacket to keep the rain off. I’m still a bit of a SoCal girl and if I’m standing still in under 40 degree rain, I’ll need the protection.
Plaid shirts seem to be The Thing here.
opiejeanne
@Anne Laurie: I’m curious now: did the giant puppets originate in Seattle?
Donna K
I do not understand how a perfectly unobjectionable comment ends up in moderation. Just sayin’.
AMinNC
Really excited to be going – bussing up for the day with a group of friends. We are planning on using the bus trip to further organize for action upon our return. I have heard from friends from many states who will be there, in addition to people going to their local marches. My mom will be attending in Raleigh with a group of her friends! And the people naysaying about the hats need to get over themselves. One of the points of the march is to build solidarity and make people feel like they can participate in the political process – making it fun helps achieve that goal.
Anne Laurie
@opiejeanne: First *I* ever heard of them, back in the 1960s, was the Bread & Puppets people — then in NYC, now (surprise!) in… Vermont.
Lotsa lazy “radicals” beat that path, back when the ‘silent majority’ backlash meant that protesting was no longer all street theatre & getting laid.
Feathers
Dead thread, but putting this here – photomosaic from Ravelry, made with photos of women in their pussyhats –Women’s March Mosaic
And I’ll be in Boston.