These were by and large people determined to protest. There was widespread anger and alarm about the shredding of due process and the rule of law, with many homemade signs calling this fascism, calling for the defense of democracy, and demanding to bring Kilmar Abrego Garcia home. Kilmar is the man who the regime’s lawyers acknowledged was deported in “error,” sent with several hundred others to the CECOT torture prison in El Salvador. The Supreme Court said the Trump regime must “facilitate” bringing Kilmar back, but instead Trump met with Salvadoran fascist president Nayib Bukele and blatantly defied this order with sick pleasure.

A lot was moving and changing the week going into these nationwide protests, with 50501 deciding in many places not to protest after all but to do mutual aid instead. Many people were upset they couldn’t find a protest to attend, but the word started to trickle through that there WOULD be a protest, with Refuse Fascism leading this. Some people were so determined to act they showed up at the Washington Monument not even knowing if there was a protest organized but hoping to find one.

The rally featured a powerful speech by Andy Zee leading people to a deeper understanding that this IS fascism, which is not just a curse word but a change in the form of rule of society. Andy drew from the experience of people rising up in South Korea to help people see how a growing wave of determined nonviolent protest becoming millions day after day could actually force the removal of the fascist regime, now, before it’s too late. He also spoke to the principles and standards for the kind of movement we need to succeed in this. Other speakers at the rally included an immigrant rights activist who spoke out powerfully against the fascism of Bukele and led people in a chant of “What do we want? DUE PROCESS!” He was followed by a lawyer from California who signed up on the spot and spoke sharply to the extreme danger represented by the right to due process being violated.

On the march Refuse Fascism led people to chant, “Deportations, we say no! Now’s the time for Trump to go!” and variations of this including, “ICE gestapo,” “war on science,” “Fascist America.” This chant came from a brainstorming session with friends led by a new member of Refuse Fascism in Washington DC. An important feature of the rally and march was the decisive role played by her and others who have stepped forward to form a core of this chapter.

At the end of the march, Sam Goldman, a leader in RefuseFascism.org, led people to gather in a nearby park to learn more about Refuse Fascism and get organized. Dozens of people stayed to do this, breaking out into different groups to talk and to sign up, including hearing about the upcoming April 27^th regional conferences in NY, Chicago and Los Angeles. In initial comments posted in various places immediately after the demonstration, several people commented how much they appreciated this protest and Refuse Fascism. One direct message to the local chapter said, “I’ve been to other protests, but this one actually gave me some hope that people want to put up ‘real’ resistance. I’ll be going to the conference in NYC next weekend.”