From the #OUTNOW LIVE IN DC blog |
January 29, 2020: Today, we called for two major protests at the Capitol. One at 11 am before the trial resumed and one at 5 pm so people could join us after work and then march through the streets of DC to wake people up and call on more of them to join us every day that trial continues.
From the second we arrived this morning, we were in the thick of things. Lev Parnas walked down the street, surrounded by media — so we jumped in the middle with our signs reading, “Trump/Pence OUTNOW!” and chanted. This immediately drew cameras and others who joined our protest. And it never slowed down.
Lev Parnas demanding all the evidence be heard at the Dirkson senate bldg.#LevParnas is doing MORE than most Americans are to convict and remove Trump. FLOOD D.C. with the #OutNow demand get to the capitol NOW!
& 5 p.m. today Rally at Delaware ave NE & Northeast Dr. pic.twitter.com/nzynrqNbG0
— Trump/Pence Must Go NOW—#OutNow (@RefuseFascism) January 29, 2020
We were thrilled that other groups also called for protests today. Some came down to do civil disobedience on the Capitol steps with many hundreds (maybe a thousand or more?) people standing in support, raising their voices as well. Demanding witnesses. Evidence. An end to the cover up. And chanting “Trump/Pence OUTNOW!” We joined in supporting those doing civil disobedience and then continued to protest in front of the Capitol after many began drifting away. We got into thing more seriously with those who stuck around, talking about the responsibility we have to struggle with our neighbors and friends to get out of their comfort zones and join the struggle in the streets — not just for one day, but growing and coming back until the whole regime has been removed from power.
A man with a government job who was part of this protest said what we had put forward made so much sense. “If just a portion of the people who had come out for the Women’s March had stayed in the streets, we probably wouldn’t be in this mess.” This is true. But it is clear by now that they are not going to organize this first. That is what we have to — and are — taking responsibility for.
Convict and remove! Trump/Pence #OUTNOW #SwarmTheSenate #ImpeachmentTrial pic.twitter.com/rtFgtqw8UH
— Trump/Pence Must Go NOW—#OutNow (@RefuseFascism) January 29, 2020
The highlight of our day was a high-energy, highly rhythmic march we did through the streets of DC as dusk fell. With the Capitol lit up behind us, police lights flashing all around us, and our chants ringing out, we took the entire street and lit up the night with our voices and demands. All along the way, people threw up their fists, took out their cameras, danced to our rhythm and joined in our chanting. Some joined the marching