I recently went into Washington D.C. following the announcement of Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 Presidential Election. The streets in front of the White House were filled with supporters of the verdict and who opposed Donald Trump’s time in office. While protests are frequently thought to be conflict-driven and hostile, this experience could not have been farther from that notion, as the crowd was overwhelmingly celebratory and excited for the expected reform in store. Throughout the day I witnessed countless people singing, dancing, and cheering in triumph all while also calling attention to the shortcomings of the Trump’s administration and expressing the concerns they wish to be addressed by Biden’s administration. Given the current political climate, the primary cause that was being campaigned for was Black Lives Matter, but the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, LGBTQA+ equality, women’s rights, and many other movements were also heavily advocated for. Overall, the event was extremely positive and unlike anything else I had ever taken part in; after months of seemingly endless division and turmoil, seeing everybody unite with that much passion and dedication was incredible and I would strongly encourage anyone with an interest in activism to experience it as well.
Although Baltimore has so much offer within itself, one of the city’s major perks is its proximity to our nation’s capital. Aside from visiting the museums and seeing the monuments, which is always a good option, D.C. also grants an opportunity for students to get involved in social change through participating in protests.
Two of our other writers, Madeline Buscone and Katherine Burns, have also ventured into Washington D.C. for a protest and share similar sentiments about their experiences during the March for our Lives event in the spring of 2018. This movement advocated for ending gun violence by increasing restrictions on those who can legally obtain firearms. About the march, Buscone says: “This was my first time attending a protest in DC and it was a very inspiring day. Seeing people from all different backgrounds come together for the same reason was very powerful and made me feel optimistic for the future.”
Likewise, Burns says, “I spent the majority of my life just being aware of school shootings and mass shootings, and thinking about how horrible they were. It wasn’t until I had heard about the shooting at Parkland, that I really began to look into the issue of gun control in this country. I wanted to help, and I figured the best way to start was by showing up and continuing to educate myself. That’s why I attended the March for Our Lives in 2018.”
For a reasonable fee of just $8 one-way and $16 round-trip on the MARC Train, you can get from Baltimore’s Penn Station to Washington D.C.’s Union Station in under an hour
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