Donald J. Trump was inaugurated on Friday, January 20, 2017. Across the nation, people marched in peaceful protest on Saturday, January 21, 2017.

Originally disseminated as a “women’s march”, the protest became much more. Black Lives Matter, immigrants’ rights, and equality for those with ethnic backgrounds were just a few reasons why some were marching. Others protested simply against President Trump.

Men and women of all ages attended the march in their respective cities. Starting in Judkins Park, the march around downtown Seattle ended at Seattle Center. There were so many people that some arrived at Seattle Center before others were able to leave the park.

“It was really empowering to see not just Seattle… but the entire country and the entire world like gathered together,” said junior Siena Henson who protested here in Seattle.

Others like Blanchet drama instructor Mo Mershon even flew to Washington, D.C., to protest in our nation’s capital. In D.C. the march’s permit was only for Independence Avenue, yet Mershon said that it was so crowded that people were even marching down Pennsylvania Avenue and Constitution Avenue to the White House.

“On the Jersey turnpike heading down, there were hundreds of busses that heading to the march,” said Mershon. “ As you looked in you could see all these pink pussy-hatted women, you know, and cars going by beeping and waving to each other. Just even on the turnpike there was this sense of urgency to be together – to march.”

Bought or homemade, many sported knit pink hats that were designed to look like cat ears. Such hats were dubbed “The Pussy Hat Project”. A common motto from the event was “pussy fights back” as to say that women would not submit to discrimination. The hats were attributed to a derogatory comment President Trump made about women.

“To be able to physically do something was very therapeutic so I knitted four to six hats myself because it made me feel like I was doing something to help support the resistance of this horrible misogynistic message that was going out,” said Mo Mershon.

Creativity sparked witty posters and signs that were held high in pride. Freshman Frances Vanada’s favorite was “Respect existence or expect resistance”. The majority of the crowd held signs pride, acceptance, and love.

“I think it’s important we don’t just stop here,” said Siena Henson. “Going out and doing this one thing isn’t going to change as much as we want. We have to be persistent or else the message isn’t going to get across.”