On the one-year anniversary of Donald Trump’s re-election as President, a coalition of progressive organizations plans to kick off a sustained series of nonviolent, public protests in DC beginning November 5. Organizers project that between 10,000 and 20,000 people may attend the protest on Wednesday in the nation’s capital. Led by the activist group Refuse Fascism, the “Trump Must Go Now” rally intends to “flood DC” with waves of protesters over the coming days.
One of the partners, Handmaid Army DC, a national organization with local ties, has planned daily demonstrations at locations throughout the District through Veterans Day, November 11, and additional actions are set for November 20 through 22.
Here’s what you need to know about the main event.
The basics
Handmaid Army DC will lead pre-programming actions beginning at Columbus Circle and Union Station at 7:30 AM. Organizers encourage attendees to wear red “handmaid” costumes or other attire from the television show The Handmaid’s Tale as a visual representation that “we aren’t really willing to live like this.” The group will then march to the Heritage Foundation offices, at 214 Massachusetts Ave., NE, at 8 AM. Another partner group, FLARE USA, will host the procession at their ongoing anti-Trump encampment at Union Station, located at 50 Massachusetts Ave., NE, for a 9 AM rally. The collective also plans to march to Congress with the Removal Coalition to speak with representatives and their staffs.
The “Trump Must Go Now” rally will begin at 11 AM at the Sylvan Theater, which is located at the intersection of Independence Ave. and 15th St., near the base of the Washington Monument. Programming at the Sylvan will last about an hour and a half, says Sunsara Taylor, a spokesperson for Refuse Fascism. Around 1 PM, the protest will segue into a march.
“We expect to march past the White House, the Capitol, and the Supreme Court to indict all three institutions which are dominated by fascists now, and we’ll have a concluding rally in Stanton Park,” Taylor tells Washingtonian.
Who’s speaking
Some of the speakers expected to appear onstage at the Sylvan Theater include Michael Fanone, a former DC police officer who was assaulted at the January 6 insurrection; Sunsara Taylor of Refuse Fascism; Handmaid DC organizer Ashley Cash; and Kim Villanueva from the National Organization for Women (NOW).
There will also be musical performances by Outernational and local rock band Waking Stone, of which Ashley Cash is a member.
Be mindful of road closures
Per the National Park Service, depending on the number of participants, the protest may cause “intermittent road closures” as it follows a march route “from 15th Street NW to Constitution Avenue, then toward the Capitol and concluding at Stanton Park.”
There will be no parking on these streets from 7 AM to 4 PM on Wednesday:
- Maryland Ave., from Independence Ave., to 3rd St., SW
There will be no parking on these streets from 9:30 AM to 4 PM on Wednesday:
- Constitution Ave. from 15th St. to 6th St., NW
These streets may be closed from 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM on Wednesday:
- Constitution Ave. from 15th St., NW to First St., NE
- East Capitol St. from First St. to 5th St., NE
- 5th St. from East Capitol St. to C St., NE
This post has been updated with additional parking and road closure information.
Dara T. Mathis is a journalist and nonfiction writer who joined Washingtonian in Fall 2025 as an Editorial Fellow. A 2024 recipient of the American Mosaic Journalism Prize, she resides in Prince George’s County, Maryland.
