The day after President Trump was inaugurated, millions of people worldwide took to the streets to raise awareness for women’s rights and promote gender and race equality. Half a million people were predicted to have marched in Washington DC, and 100,000 people gathered in London to protest the issues threatened under Trump’s administration.
In the mass crowds were a sea of signs and banners emblazoned with slogans that criticised Trump and promoted gender equality. Some read ‘Stronger Together’ and ‘Women’s Rights Are Human Rights’, but most echoed the derogatory comments made by Trump when he bragged about sexually assaulting women, such as ‘P*ssy Grabs Back’.
Though well-intentioned and peaceful, the protesters have been criticised as ‘selfish’ by those who are concerned about the environment, after hundreds of signs and placards were abandoned in the streets of Washington and laid in front of the White House and other landmarks.
People took to Twitter to express their concerns about the littering.
While some expressed disgust at the overflowing bins and mess left on the streets, museums and libraries around the world are desperate the save the abandoned placards as they consider them to be historical artifacts.
Bishopsgate Institute in London told Fortune, ‘We knew [the march] was a very important moment in London protest history, so we were very keen to make sure it was recorded. History doesn't end in 1945. History is made every day.’
The Women's Marches will definitely go down in history and there will be countless exhibitions to show for it. If you don't have a need for your signs, donate them to museums and libraries near you.
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