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The Resistance Is Alive and Well: Communities Rising Against Intimidation
 Thousands of demonstrators gathered at Meridian Hill Park, also known as Malcolm X Park, on Saturday for the “We Are All DC” march, a rally uniting people from across the District and beyond. The event drew unions, faith organizations, community groups, and individuals of all ages—each with a message of solidarity and resistance. A Multigenerational Turnout Participants ranged from 83-year-old Anne Morrison, who walked with her cane, to 10-year-old Henry, proudly holding an inflatable sandwich that his father, Philippe, jokingly called “the new symbol of democracy.” For Philippe, the march was about showing his children that collective action can spark change. “It feels like we’re all hiding behind our screens, and we don’t know if other people care,” he said. “It’s good to see in real life—people care.” Morrison, who has lived in D.C. since 1972, expressed her determination to attend despite her age. “The administration should not be invading, not just D.C., but doing everything else that it is doing to undermine democracy,” she said. Signs, Speeches, and Unity The rally was marked by chants, music, and speeches, as well as hand-painted signs and symbolic T-shirts. Tom Bridge, a longtime D.C. resident, wore a shirt reading, “Be a good person.” He explained, “That’s something we need to be reminded of in the era of dirty politics from the Trump administration.” Suji, who arrived in Washington 50 years ago to study at Howard Law School, highlighted D.C.’s long struggle for self-governance. “D.C. has never ruled itself. It’s always been a colony,” she said. “It’s just gotten worse since Trump has gotten into office and militarized the police.” Protesters Travel From Afar While thousands of Washingtonians filled the park, many others traveled long distances to participate. Logan Smith, a U.S. Navy veteran from Massachusetts, drove six hours to attend. “The Constitution is being shredded apart and stepped upon,” Smith declared. “Veterans are being treated like garbage. Our health care is being taken, our rights are being threatened. This is not what I signed up for.” Immigrant Voices and Labor Solidarity The march also spotlighted immigrant workers and union members. Jaime Contreras, executive vice president of the D.C. chapter of SEIU, joined alongside colleagues representing 60 countries and 25 languages. “Our members maintain and secure commercial buildings, work as cleaners, and keep the airports running,” he said. Contreras, who came to the U.S. from El Salvador at age 13, condemned aggressive immigration enforcement. “It’s unbelievable that ICE agents are abducting people who are just going to work, leaving children crying at home,” he said. “This is not the American dream. This is a nightmare.” A Call for Justice As the crowd marched through the city, Contreras summed up the broader message: “You’ve got servicemen and women accompanying their parents to immigration hearings because they don’t want them abducted. Let’s not confuse patriotism with racism.” For the thousands who gathered at Malcolm X Park, the march was not only a show of resistance but also a reminder that unity and justice remain at the heart of democracy.
‘Let’s Not Confuse Patriotism With Racism’: Thousands Join ‘We Are All DC’ March