EVERETT — With placards and chants, protesters voiced their disgust for President Donald Trump as they marched from Everett’s waterfront to downtown for a political rally Saturday.
They called it the “March to Impeach.” By the time they gathered at noon outside the Snohomish County courthouse, the crowd had grown to roughly 150. It was a smaller counterpart to a march in Seattle that drew tens of thousands of participants, and similar events around the globe.
Like many marchers, Kathleen Sather, of Monroe, could rattle off a stream of concerns about the current political climate. Reproductive rights, equal pay for women and racial discrimination were among the top ones for her.
“There’s a whole laundry list,” the 66-year-old spa owner said in downtown Everett.
A sign elsewhere in the throng summed up the mood on the chilly morning, one year to the day since Trump’s inauguration: “There’s too much to protest to put on one sign.”
Others clamored for universal health care, environmental protections and immigrant rights.
Some people from the area headed down I-5 to join the Seattle Women’s March 2.0.
Paula Townsell, a land-use planner from Everett, felt the “the same incredible energy” as a year ago, with better organization and a slight change in focus.
“Last year felt global — this year it felt personal,” she said.
Townsell was ready to organize politically like-minded people and to keep marching until Trump is gone.
“We’re going to continue to march and continue to disturb the anniversary of his coming to office,” she said. “We are going to continue to do this every January until he is out of office. We have to do this.”
JoAnn Moffitt drove to Seattle from Marysville with four friends from her book club, all in their 50s and early 60s. They marveled at how many different people were represented, and how much they supported one another.
“It was very cross-generational,” Moffitt said. “It was not just one ethnic group or one segment of the population.”
For the whole group, the political outlook was brighter compared to a year ago.
“Last year, it was more emotional,” Moffitt said. “This year I felt more hopeful.”
Her friend, Debbie Whitfield, who did not participate last year, had a similar reaction: “I had more of a sense of hope from being part of the march, with a lot of really positive energy encouraging people to get out and vote.”
The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Washington led Seattle’s march in an effort to call attention to what it said is an epidemic of violence against indigenous women.
The Everett march began at the 10th Street boat landing, went to Legion Memorial Park, then headed south on Broadway.
Sather said some motorists honked, but others made lewd hand gestures.
“We just waved,” she said.
During the Everett rally, speakers represented a spectrum of political groups: 350 Everett, which focuses on climate change; the local branch of the Democratic Socialists of America; the Green Party; and Whole Washington, a group that supports healthcare coverage for all Americans as a basic right.
There was no organized counterprotest in Everett to express support for Trump or his policies.
A different scene played out on the same streets in August 2016. Thousands of Trump supporters, and many protesters, swarmed downtown when then-candidate Trump held a campaign rally in Everett as part of his longshot, but ultimately successful, presidential bid.
While the outcome of the election left Trump’s supporters cheering, his detractors seethed and soon hit the streets to protest — by the millions. More than 100,000 people joined the Women’s March on Seattle on Jan. 21 of last year, a day after Trump’s inauguration. It coincided with massive protests in Washington, D.C., and similar events throughout the world.
In the year since, the #metoo movement has focused attention on sexual harassment and assaults against women.
During Saturday’s protests, Trump took to Twitter to defend his record.
“Unprecedented success for our Country, in so many ways, since the Election,” he tweeted. “Record Stock Market, Strong on Military, Crime, Borders, & ISIS, Judicial Strength & Numbers, Lowest Unemployment for Women & ALL, Massive Tax Cuts, end of Individual Mandate — and so much more. Big 2018!”
The federal government remained closed, with congressional Republicans and Democrats deadlocked over spending and immigration.
Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465; nhaglund@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @NWhaglund.
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