Vast crowds gather to protest against Donald Trump

By J.P.P | WASHINGTON, DC

THE first full day of Donald Trump’s presidency was marked by some vast protest marches in America and some pretty big ones elsewhere in the world. Demonstrating after an election is a strange thing to do: generally the most effective time to protest is when casting a ballot. The Americans who voted for Mr Trump will have seen the thronged streets and concluded that there are a lot of sore losers. But the “Women’s March on Washington”, organised by activists, did not feel like a protest against the result. It was more like an amble for civility.

On the National Mall, where the day before people in red baseball caps had thronged to celebrate the inauguration of the 45th president, there was happy chaos. Nobody knew where they were going or minded too much whether they heard the various speakers arranged by the organisers. There was a fierce contest for the wittiest sign (“We shall overcomb”, carried by Kate from Massachusetts was your blogger’s favourite). There were plenty of jokes about small hands, a few Russia gags (“Just Say Nyet”) and some earnest attempts at making points about policy (“Uphold The Paris Climate Agreement”), along with many Black Lives Matter and pro-choice placards.