What exactly do people hope the marches today will accomplish?

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

[Bonx]

1. I don't know. I was going to watch some, but college basketball...:/

[Stellar]

2. If nothing else...it will let our congresscritters know we are watching them and their actions.

and, NOT TO HELP TRUMP!

[alarimer]

3. Putting Trump on notice that we hate him

I think this is the big message. We are going to follow him and heckle him everywhere.

[Wounded Bear]

4. I hope it actually starts a movement...

It has to morph into pressure on congresscritters and future votes or it's all a waste.

Speakers at the DC event were pimping organizing. That has to follow the rallies today.

[killbotfactory]

5. SOLIDARITY

[kacekwl]

10. Yes, Solidarity let trump and his crew of traitors know that they

Don't have a majority, they don't have a mandate, they don't have the support of the people, they can't do as they please. They will be watched and hopefully charged when they commit crimes . . We will not be silent. That you women and all involved.

[smirkymonkey]

6. Giving us hope. Letting us all know that we are not alone.

I myself was very uplifted by this show of solidarity all over the world. It was beautiful!

[pnwmom]

7. To remind the country that DT has no mandate, and progressive principles do.

They were supported by the popular vote in the country and DT and his tea party agenda were not.

And to ENERGIZE activists for the battles ahead. This is only the beginning, not the end.

[blogslut]

8. Well, this time...

it's driving BLOTUS up a tree.

As for the claim that demonstrations do nothing, it's a very old and tired claim.

[treestar]

9. Exactly

Did anyone say this for the anti-war marches ? If something doesn't happen immediately that does not mean it did not contribute

[frazzled]

11. To let the country know that enough people care enough

to come out on a January weekend to express their opinions and show their solidarity.

I had a rather negative view of the march before I went today (though I was still determined to go, just to feel better myself). After all, I'd marched in massive crowds against the invasion of Iraq, but it happened anyway; I'd marched in an enormous immigration demonstration (400,000 people here in Chicago), and immigration reform didn't happen.

I know that Donald Trump and Republicans don't give a rat's ass if 50 million people come out to march. They'll do what they want. At least at first. But peaceful, positive rallies such as these that garner media attention make people at home notice, and think. And hopefully they may want to be where the popular sentiment is. And perhaps public opinion will shift a bit. And then as Trump's numbers decline, Republicans start to get shaky, and start to defy him for fear of their own popularity sinking. And then ... maybe.

I hope these marches today mark the beginning of committed, thoughtful, peaceful actions over the next months and years. Count me as fired up and ready to go.

[KittyWampus]

12. We are not alone. It's a great way to network.

[SticksnStones]

13. It's such a remarkable event

Perhaps it will catch the eye of an unengaged non voting voter.

Midterms: the eye on the prize

Maybe these rallies teach more of us how to be community organizers.

Maybe there's a youngster in the crowd who's life is impacted positively by the examples being set by today's action.

[Matthew28]

14. I'd like to see it grow the democratic party

like the tea party did the republicans....A movement at the grass roots waking people up to how messed up that tea party really was.

[Grammy23]

15. Oh, I don't know?

Maybe the same things the Vietnam War protestors thought. We're angry with the tone of what we are hearing from our President? We are against what he is promoting? We are organized? There are more of us than you think? We will push back? That might be a few thoughts running through their heads. Ignore us at your peril, Mr. pResident.

[Generator]

16. We will push back

We are here. Resist.

[SammyWinstonJack]

19. +1000000!

[littlemissmartypants]

17. Text women to 40649.

The organizers will send you the plan. It's up to you.

[meadowlander]

18. To reassert reality.

We are the majority and this is our fucking America and it's already pretty fucking great.

[Eleanors38]

20. In Austin, to shake the hep-cat, apolitical shit out of the new-comers' britches!

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

21. Thanks to all of you for your responses.

I'm currently in Colorado Springs at a small conference, and earlier this evening I was in the bar with friends and one of them had been at the Denver march with her 12 year old daughter. They showed me pictures. It was wonderful. They also were full of praise for one of the hotels near the march who let about 30 women hang out in their lobby and make posters. They also let the women eat breakfast, even though only two of them had stayed there. Later they were able to use the hotel as a bathroom stop.

I can't recall the name of the hotel, but if I see this woman tomorrow I'll try to find out and post it here.