Jo Freeman: Five Days in DC Where the Post-election Protests Were Puny but the Politics Were Not

Another rally was held at McPherson on Friday, with an emphasis on immigrant groups, especially Latinx. There was more entertainment and fewer numbers. Among the props was a 20 foot high balloon. Originally a rat, this one had been redesigned to look like Trump. It had his pompadour, but it was the outstuck ears, tail and teeth that caught your eye. A rat balloon has been used by labor unions picketing employers for years.

The two hour rally was followed by a one block march on K St. to BLM Plaza. Led by banners saying "Count Every Vote" it was blocked by barricades at the Plaza. On the way, a woman carrying a US flag and a cardboard cutout of a Biden head led the chant: "You can’t stop the Revolution." The Trump rat, carried by a dozen people, brought up the rear.

At the barricades, the MPD (DC’s police are known as the Metropolitan Police Department) let the marchers with their signs and banners filter through the barricades, but stopped the Trump rat with bicycles. People walked down to H St. to talk, paint more signs and wave flags. The Trump rat returned to McPherson Sq.

By the time I returned to McPherson on Saturday, Biden had been declared the winner by the media. The screen said VOTERS DECIDED. There were a few speakers but protest had been replaced by celebration. In balmy weather, people were picnicking in the park. The Trump rat was back on its corner. From each hand flew a black balloon inscribed with LOSER. CNN election commentary was on the screen until all was broken down around 4:30.

Those at McPherson walked to BLM Plaza to join the party. There CodePink and RCP were trumpeting their respective causes. The Black is Back Coalition had hosted a rally a mile north and marched down to BLM Plaza. They were joined by thousands who had not gone to any of the protests but came to the street party. Every one was happy. No one was angry. They partied the night away.

Trump had finally proven to be the uniter he always claimed to be: Everyone from the moderate Democratic middle to the far left was joining together to tell him YOU’RE FIRED!

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Jo Freeman: Five Days in DC Where the Post-election Protests Were Puny but the Politics Were Not

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