‘The people united will never be defeated’: Richmonders protest the inauguration, political analysts comment
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Dozens of Richmonders gathered in the city's Monroe Park on Jan. 20, President Donald Trump's second inauguration. The protest, organized by several local groups, was part of a nationwide string of protests called, "We Fight Back!". "We're here for immigrants and their families. We're here for a free Palestine. We're here for the rights of workers," said David Robbins, a community organizer with the Party for Socialism and Liberation of Virginia (PSL). "We want people to have a living wage and not have to beg for quarters." The rally was one of 73 held in major cities across the country on Monday after Trump took oath. Political analysts noted some unique aspects of this election, highlighting the fact that Trump's two presidencies are not consecutive. "The only exception except for Mr. Trump today is Grover Cleveland, and that's back in the 1800s," said Virginia Tech professor and political analyst Karen Hult. "So, this is quite rare indeed." This wasn't the only thing political analysts pointed out, as many compared Trump's 2017 inauguration to his in 2025. "One of the more striking elements of this year's inauguration is how much the financial elites of the United States are willing to openly embrace the second Trump administration," said Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) professor and political scientist John Aughenbaugh. Due to the weather, the Inauguration Day ceremony itself took place indoors, forcing a smaller crowd, but giving people the opportunity to watch a livestream. "Many members of Congress actually were seated in the overflow area of the Capitol Rotunda, and instead some of the large donors to President Trump's inaugural committee got somewhat better seats," Hult said. Protestors said this exacerbated the disconnect they feel from both major political parties, emphasizing that they do not feel satisfied with nor represented by Democrats or republicans. "Both parties represent the capitalist billionaire class," protestors chanted. As the protest concluded, organizers announced plans to meet at Gold Lion Community Café at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 25 to discuss their next mobilization steps as the country waits for Trump's executive orders to play out.
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RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Dozens of Richmonders gathered in the city's Monroe Park on Jan. 20, President Donald Trump's second inauguration. The protest, organized by several local groups, was part of a nationwide string of protests called, "We Fight Back!".
"We're here for immigrants and their families. We're here for a free Palestine. We're here for the rights of workers," said David Robbins, a community organizer with the Party for Socialism and Liberation of Virginia (PSL). "We want people to have a living wage and not have to beg for quarters."
The rally was one of 73 held in major cities across the country on Monday after Trump took oath.
Political analysts noted some unique aspects of this election, highlighting the fact that Trump's two presidencies are not consecutive.
"The only exception except for Mr. Trump today is Grover Cleveland, and that's back in the 1800s," said Virginia Tech professor and political analyst Karen Hult. "So, this is quite rare indeed."
This wasn't the only thing political analysts pointed out, as many compared Trump's 2017 inauguration to his in 2025.
"One of the more striking elements of this year's inauguration is how much the financial elites of the United States are willing to openly embrace the second Trump administration," said Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) professor and political scientist John Aughenbaugh.
Due to the weather, the Inauguration Day ceremony itself took place indoors, forcing a smaller crowd, but giving people the opportunity to watch a livestream.
"Many members of Congress actually were seated in the overflow area of the Capitol Rotunda, and instead some of the large donors to President Trump's inaugural committee got somewhat better seats," Hult said.
Protestors said this exacerbated the disconnect they feel from both major political parties, emphasizing that they do not feel satisfied with nor represented by Democrats or republicans.
"Both parties represent the capitalist billionaire class," protestors chanted.
As the protest concluded, organizers announced plans to meet at Gold Lion Community Café at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 25 to discuss their next mobilization steps as the country waits for Trump's executive orders to play out.
