“I think it’s important to remember that this isn’t the end, that this one election doesn’t represent the path that we’re on in this country and that there’s still room for change,” said Nora Dickson, who braved intermittent sleet and cold temperatures to join other activists chanting, holding signs and lofting banners while marching to the Lincoln Memorial on Jan. 18. “We can’t disassociate from politics over these next two years just because it didn’t go our way. We have to continue to fight and to build up so we can retake the House and find good candidates that truly care about the people.”

Western North Carolina native Nora Dickson stands in Franklin Park just prior to the People’s March on Jan. 18, 2025. Jeffrey Delannoy photo

Dickson, 24, is a Smoky Mountain High School alumna who earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, moved to Washington two years ago to complete her master’s degree in health policy at George Washington University and spent that time working for one of North Carolina’s few Democratic congresswomen, Deborah Ross. Dickson now lobbies for a nonpartisan organization that represents nonprofit community provider-aligned health plans across the country. Her father, Chuck, is an elected member of the Waynesville Town Council, and her mother, Sybil, is chair of the Haywood County Democratic Party.

The People’s March has its roots in a similar event that took place in January 2017 less than 24 hours after Donald Trump was sworn in for his first term as president. An estimated 470,000 people — many wearing the iconic “pink hats” that had emerged as a sign of resistance — took to the streets in a miles-long demonstration designed to call attention to what they perceived as threats to health care, the middle class, LGBTQ+ people and bodily autonomy. Affiliated marches also took place across the country (see Asheville People's March).

This year’s event featured three staging locations incorporating a broad coalition of advocacy groups.

McPherson Square hosted marchers mostly concerned with issues facing Washington itself — less than a state but more than a town, the District has been something of a legal enigma since its inception in 1790, simultaneously serving as the seat of immense global power but lacking the ability to control much of its own destiny or even vote in Congress.

Franklin Park, just north of the White House, saw protestors concerned with bodily autonomy, gender equality and LGBTQ+ issues. Dickson wasn’t there by accident.

“I think a woman’s right to choose and having access to reproductive care is one of the biggest things I’m passionate about, especially with members in the House of Representatives who are willing to go to bat for these issues and willing to take a much more far-right stance on abortion and gender affirming care. I think it’s really scary,” Dickson said. “I think in two years, they can do a lot of damage.”

In Farragut Square, demonstrators were focused on democracy, immigration, anti-militarism, and climate change. Amid the crowd were some folks from North Carolina, including one woman, Paula, who like most didn’t offer her last name. Paula traveled to the capital from Durham to meet up with her sister, Elizabeth, who came over from Scottsdale, Arizona. The pair had come to the prior women’s marches. Paula said that while the march was important and she was afraid of what is happening nationally, what is happening in the Tar Heel State is of equal concern.

“If you follow North Carolina politics, it’s a nightmare,” she said, specifically citing Republican Jefferson Griffin’s continued quest to overturn Democrat Allison Riggs’ victory to retain her State Supreme Court seat.

“North Carolina also has to worry about voter suppression and gerrymandering,” she added.

Some people in Farragut Square interviewed by The Smoky Mountain News admitted that they’re feeling the fatigue of constantly opposing President Donald Trump and the Republican Party, especially over the last 10 years, but Paula said exhaustion is not an option.

“That’s what autocrats do,” she said.

Along with climate change, the most consistent theme among protestors who gathered in Farragut Square was ending American involvement in foreign conflicts and dismantling the military-industrial complex. One veteran, a man named Tom who said he served 20 years and deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan, noted that when he was enlisted, the mission was the focus, and personal politics didn’t enter the equation. But now, politics for “politics’ sake” is intruding on what was once productive discourse.

“More people are drawing a line between those who are standing for morals and ethics and those who aren’t,” he said. “United we stand and divided we fall.” 

The Rev. Dr. Jennifer Hosler offered a preview of the speech she gave in front of tens of thousands of people to The Smoky Mountain News ahead of the march. Kyle Perrotti photo

Another person who delivered a message of unity was the Rev. Dr. Jennifer Hosler, who heads up the Historic Peace Church — a denomination that is closest to the religious practices of Mennonites and Quakers. Her church is just a few blocks from the Capitol. Hosler spoke in front of the bustling crowd standing along the reflecting pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial. Prior to that speech, she offered her thoughts to SMN.

Hosler said she cares deeply about social justice, including causes like climate change and humane immigration policies.

“I also care deeply about protecting life in Palestine, and I think we should very much be divesting from funding weapons of death because we need funding in healthcare and affordable housing and education and childcare,” she said. “I think one of the beautiful things about this march is how people are coming together from these different perspectives with one common cause in that we’re working for the people.” 

Hosler said her morals are guided by a fairly simple principle — people must care about all of God’s creation, including their fellow humans and the planet we all live on.

“In Luke 4, Jesus says the spirit of the Lord is on me to proclaim good news for the poor, freedom for the oppressed,” she said.

Some attendees had a more militant view of things, such as a woman who only offered the name Valerie and wielded a sign featuring a depiction of a guillotine that read “off with his head,” alluding to President Donald Trump. When asked whether that was to be taken literally, she said it was meant to be symbolic but admitted it was evocative of the French Revolution during which the threat of having such an implement used against members of the ruling class was very real.

A woman who offered only the name Valerie stands with the provocative sign she made for the march. Kyle Perrotti photo

“However, I do think that if we can’t have change in this country through peaceful measures, I think the only option will be violent measures,” she said. “It could be predictive, in a sense. If enough people feel disenfranchised and the wealth inequity continues to grow and more people can’t afford food, housing, medical care, health insurance, who knows? I mean, the French Revolution was over bread.” 

Those interviewed all knew a fair amount about politics and many — especially Dickson — cited North Carolina as an example of how progressive candidates can come away with crucial victories in a state that went for Trump. The Tar Heel State not only elected a Democrat Governor in Josh Stein, it also eliminated the GOP’s veto-proof supermajority in the General Assembly and won a number of Council of State races.

“Look at North Carolina. Look at what Josh Stein and [former Gov.] Roy Cooper and other amazing Democrats in North Carolina have been building for years,” Dickson said. “We are literally the model for how to be Democrats elected in a red country, in a red state.”