Thanks for the info @CountingDown It sounds simple enough…my friend told me to take the red line too, but good to have a backup to PM in case I can’t reach her.
Yes, I know that MARC has a different schedule on the weekends - we took at Saturday morning train in somewhere around 9. And return trips were less than during the week but still a few options.
I think this is the right schedule?? (I’m no pro!!) https://mta.maryland.gov/sites/default/files/Penn_WEEKEND_111916_full.pdf
I’ve followed this thread with interest and feel that now is the time to express what will undoubtedly be a very unpopular opinion.
To me, the marches amount to little more than a naive adult tantrum and a chance for lots of women to spend the day out with friends and vent. They will have zero effect on what’s happening in the new administration. The unfocused nature of the marches and their failure to cohere around specific, achievable goals is a major part of the problem. It’s all “we’re mad as hell and we’re not going to take it anymore–so there!” How pointless.
I expect the new President’s response, if any, will be to reiterate how much he loves women and how his administration will do so much for women that they will be sick of having things done for them. Then he’ll mention how thoughtless the marchers were to tie up traffic in many cities and impede the DC tourist trade. “We’re watching you”? He doesn’t care.
I strongly suggest anyone planning on spending money to attend a march instead put it toward something far more useful, like a contribution to Planned Parenthood or the ACLU. Take the time you would have spent traveling and marching and volunteer at a political organization to work at the grassroots level to affect the next Congressional election. But go march if you must–just don’t dislocate your shoulders patting yourselves on the back for having somehow made a difference.
I say do both if you can. March and donate. Time and/or money.
The President can take notice or not. But someone will. Someone else will be inspired. Someone will be touched. Someone will care. “Someone” meaning LOTS.
“spend the day out with friends and vent”. Wow, that is so insulting to me! And I’m not even marching! You are entitled to your opinion but it makes me sad that that is how you see this effort!
There is a lot of power and inspiration in unity. Some will do the march and never another thing towards change. But bet your sandwich board, this will be just the first step for many. It IS the first step for many right on this board - people who haven’t been moved to unify before.
Yikes! This March is about being counted for me. If women are willing to stand together I want to be there. I had no other thought. The outcome doesn’t have to measured by what changes. We’re here. That’s all. And we should never make decisions out of fear of being made fun of or fear of being blamed for causing a fuss. He will make fun of us and blame us for traffic snarls and we will March on. Women will know they aren’t alone. Young women will be inspired. It’s going to be a great March. I feel proud.
Then you for all the train info. I have ordered metro card day passes and I plan to study a map. I’m worried about getting lost and the crowds, especially back to the busses.
It seems to me a display of numbers matters a whole lot right now. I’m not doing it for fun but from a sense of responsibility.
Everyone I know attending is already very involved at the local level politically, even though it has little impact in our state, but we do all we can. And we certainly all donate time and money. The March is in addition.
I have been reading the posts, too, and thinking about earlier marches. Sometimes the impact may not be felt for many years. I want my granddaughters to know I did my best for them, regardless of outcome. The only thing under my control is my own actions. Because of where I live I am used to seemingly pointless efforts.
Without getting too political, I will say that this march is just a starting point. I would guess that most people participating will likely not have had any experience protesting or organizing before.
Different organizations are recruiting people and running workshops before or after the rally for people who want to get more involved and go forth to organize in their communities all across the country. I’ll be marching with a organization for a specific cause, but the main goal of THIS gathering, for us, is to recruit and expand into other communities, or inspire those who couldn’t come to get more involved at a grass roots level. I guess there are SO MANY different issues at this point that it’s hard to focus on one at this point, but I have no doubt that there will be rallies that are specific (but still under this umbrella of causes) going forward.
To suggest that those marching aren’t also donating to other causes is absurd. I certainly am.
Wooly Mammoth is at 641 D street NW, about a block off of PA avenue and about a block behind the Navy/Archives Metro station.
Well said, @PetraMC, after the election, my family, friends and I were at a loss. This march is merely the beginning of our involvement. We are looking into the “Indivisible” organization because to simply donate money so we can sit in the comfort of our own homes will no longer work. Look at where we are now. Its not acceptable.
@romanigypsyeyes, Mr. R wearing that reminds me of when DH wore a pink polo shirt that I bought him in the 80’s. Wow, did he catch some flack from his family. 
I think I am the only Michigander here but several local churches are opening their doors as designated warming spots here. I’d bet that most other places have something similar.
Also, I’m extremely proud of the local churches. I used to work in shelters in Lansing and the nuns/other women of the church were awesome at helping us. They didn’t push religion or anything (unless asked, which many of our residents did) but were simply there to help those in need. It gave me great faith in some religious officials again 
@lilmom lol. Mr R has a shirt that says “I wear purple for my wife. Cure lupus.” and my dad has one that says the same thing except daughter. We bought them for a lupus walk last year. They both proudly wear them.
Mr R is colorblind so it’s pretty much all the same to him 
To me the important thing is numbers and visibility. This is not the beginning of my activism and donations, and it won’t be the end.
If those in attendance speak truth to power, whatever power hears - that’s valid. The truth is that many people aren’t willing to throw up their hands and say “Eh … whatchagonnado?” Demonstrations have made a difference many times in my lifetime without finely honed “achievable goals.” I think it’s a shame to dismiss this one as a “naive adult tantrum.” It’s possible to say you question what the March will achieve without trivializing the participants.
A few logistical notes:
Don’t count on easily stopping at Smithsonian Museums. They have security checkpoints, and even on regular weekends it can take a while to get through, so with thousands up thousands (!) going past, it may be impractical to get in and out easily.
When I looked last, the march website said they have not released the route yet. I checked Google maps for Third and Independence (the start point) to the Ellipse behind the White House (I think this is the end point). It’s about 1.5 miles and it will probably be very slow going. The closest Red Line stop is Judiciary Square. Slightly farther is Union Station.
The march website says that backpacks are not permitted, but I’m not sure how they can enforce that with so many people.
My newly elected representative to Congress is holding a breakfast beforehand and sponsoring buses down to the rally from the Maryland suburb of Silver Spring (but not back). I was just about to register, but the website says that due to “overwhelming response,” they are temporarily halting registration. But if you’re interested and staying nearby in Montgomery County, check https://jamieraskin.com/WomensMarch.
Again, momofthreeboys, rest assured that thousands of the marchers ARE “connected at the local level.” I have seen that firsthand.
I also have seen that marchers are connected at the local level. How did you think we arranged busses? What do you think we talk about in our pussyhat knitting circles? What do you think our local march Facebook pages are for, and the rallies before the local marches?
As we roll up our sleeves and get to work on the resistance, we’re starting off with a big splashy event. We’ll raise our spirits as we see our sisters and brothers united with us.
My local group is also setting up a meeting with our Congressional Representative. We’re calling our Senators, and other Congresspeople. We’re researching issues, and disseminating our research.
The Women’s March is just the beginning.
MODERATOR’S NOTE:
I’ve deleted several posts that are just too political. Talking about logistics is fine. Talking about the effect that it will have on Congressman XYZ’s reelection is not. Let’s keep political discussion out of it please.
I’ll just agree here that the point in massing is to register your protest on a large scale . The beauty is often in the simplicity of the act.
To all of you going, my sincere respect and thanks. You’re exercising our right.
For folks who may be taking buses or trains that wind up at Union Station: it’s a .9 mile walk to 3rd and Independence SW where the march begins. Make sure you go to Southwest! Given the expected crowd, it’s probably faster to walk vs. a cab or local bus.
If you are coming in on the Red Line from Shady Grove (Gaithersburg and points north, Rockville, Bethesda, Friendship Heights), Judiciary Square is the closest Red Line stop to 3rd and Independence SW. It’s 2.0 miles from the Farragut North Station, 1.2 from Metro Center.
I’m probably going to get off the train and walk from either Farragut North or Metro Center and avoid the mayhem at the closer stops. I will definitely get my steps for the day!
The area near Verizon Center (7th and F Northwest; Gallery Place Metro station) has a ton of restaurants (sit-down and fast casual). It’s about a mile from the starting point for the march. S2 and I have checked out a number of them when we attend Caps games – and unlike the areas around the federal buildings, these places are open on weekends.
Print out a map before you leave for the march so you’re not dependent on your phone for directions. (Alternative: create maps in Google beforehand and save them to your phone. Then you don’t need cell service to access them.) Expect that cell service will be overloaded and not functional, which was the case for Stewart/Colbert. Someone else also posted the annotated Google map for the immediate area, but if you want to branch out to check alternative Metro stops/food, you may want to create your own.
@CountingDown and others … My BIL and family are going to DC not for the march but the inauguration. UGH. But they want ds2, a DC college student, to drive them around on the 21st. Is it going to be a nightmare to get them around to see the sights? They’re renting a car, but I fear it will be a mess and not the best day to see the Mall, etc. Any tips?
Information on charter busses to the Los Angeles March originating in Santa Barbara, Rancho Cucamonga and Palm Springs
http://rallybus.net/womens-march-on-los-angeles-ca