After spending yesterday walking all over Washington D.C. with my back,legs and feet pretty sore I told myself if I woke up early I would head back to D.C. for the March For Our Lives walk. I woke up at 2:30, 4:30 and finally 6:15 so I hopped out of bed and prepared to go. Metro would not open till 7a.m. I chose a longer walk and got off at the Union Station Exit. I decided to not go on Pennsylvania Ave which only had access from certain streets and you were stuck in that one spot. Choosing a park area where a lot of media were set up. I was about 4 blocks from the stage on Pennsylvania (but not on the street) and arrived early enough to climb on top of one of the large empty concrete flower containers. Best decision EVER since that got me up and over the supporters.They walked around the planter trying to get closer to the stage. Thousands and thousands of people had filled this area and the walkers and signs kept changing where on the actual street the view was at a stand still and never changed. Not one to stay in one spot for long I didn't move off the planter for 3 hours since I had a 360 degree view. Hundreds and hundreds of pictures but I chose this one to share. Can you imagine carrying this camera around and setting up in this crowd !! I was fascinated and in awe of him. I can kick myself that I didn't ask his name or get a card. With the estimated attendance at 800,000 I decided to head back to the metro as the speakers arrived on the stage not wanting to leave with the masses. I got home and watched them on the tv. I am so glad I attended this march and will never forget it. Praying there is change and the gun violence ends in our schools.
I'm so glad to read you were there and to see this powerful image. Watched it on TV here and was so moved. I can't imagine how much more it would have felt to be there in person. I share your dream for a gun-free (or at least sensible) future.
Leslie, thank you so much for making this! Your photo essay should be viral by now. You're amazing, so are your photos, but these citizen protesters--WOW!
I just showed the smilebox to my two teenage granddaughters. They loved it, and they expressed great confidence that their generation is going to see real change. The smilebox starts with buttons. Do you know how much Woodstock tickets are worth today? Some day the same will be true with those buttons.
