Washington, D.C
'Grab him by the ballot': Thousands join Women's March in Washington DC with messages for Trump
Thousands of people have joined the Women’s March in Washington DC as a feminist show of strength and to drive support towards the person vying to be the first woman elected president of the United States.
In their chants and on their signs, those in the crowd on Saturday, local time, found some creative ways to make their feelings known.
It came amid national debates about legal access to abortion and a woman’s right to make choices about her own body ahead of the US presidential campaign.
With the vote just days away, those on the street had several very clear and very clever messages for Republican nominee Donald Trump, including:
“We need a leader not a creepy tweeter.”
“Uncle Sam stay outta my clam.”
“Roe, Roe, Roe your vote.”
“No sex with men until Roe comes back.”
“Grab him by the ballot.”
“Sometimes you gotta flush twice.”
The march was not a campaign event, but the Women’s March organisers billed the event as a “powerful reminder to those in power that we are watching and demanding accountability – and that this November, women will win the White House”.
The event featured speeches from prominent activists emphasising a future free from domination and violence and who rallied the crowd before taking the streets.
The march moved from Freedom Plaza, past the Washington Memorial and up to the White House.
The crowd was overwhelmingly in favour of Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.
Women have been a key voting bloc for Ms Harris, who has been hoping to not just inspire Democrats to get out and vote, but to convince Republicans to switch sides.
She was recently endorsed by high-profile Republican Liz Cheney.
Women marching on Washington became a regular occurrence after Trump’s victory in 2016, and on Saturday the crowd chanted: “We won’t go back.”
They blame Trump for the restriction of their rights after he appointed conservative judges to the United States Supreme Court who then overturned Roe v Wade in 2022.
That decision removed the nationwide right to an abortion and triggered a series of bans and restrictions at the state level.
Currently, abortion is banned in almost all circumstances in 13 states.
‘It’s a matter of life and death’
Among the chanting crowd is grandmother Penny Herlihy, who turned out to march alongside a throng of young faces.
She peeled away to speak to the ABC, handing her hand-painted sign that reads “EVEN WINE CAN’T FIX THIS” to her granddaughter.
“I’m here for my daughter, my daughters-in-law, my five absolutely beautiful granddaughters and for all women everywhere,” she said.
When it comes to the race for the White House, Ms Herlihy said the choice between the two options could not be more stark.
She cast her vote for Ms Harris as soon as she could.
“The opposition is a misogynist. He’s an anarch. He is unfit to be a human being, let alone a president,” Mr Herlihy said.
“She will lead our country forward. Unity!” she said before her grandchildren erupted in applause.
Lori Harris travelled to the nation’s capital from New Jersey to attend the women’s march for her 20th year in a row.
“I have nieces, I have granddaughters and, even though this probably doesn’t affect me, women are already dying and I just think it’s a matter of life and death,” she said.
“Abortions aren’t going to stop. They’re just going to be less safe.
“This is just about controlling women.”
But she is not just here for women’s reproductive rights. Ms Harris came to show her support for a woman of colour being installed in the White House.
“Trump is really dangerous. He’s a dangerous man,” she said.
“I’m a psychotherapist and a grad school student could diagnose him.
“And he’s really degraded — his cognitive decline is really conspicuous.
“This is a really dangerous time. I’m afraid — I really am.”
‘Pussyhats’ return
Eileen Boyle, her twin sister Carole and two friends Mary Cahill and Kim Kroeger travelled from Massachusetts to be in Washington DC for the march.
“We felt like we needed to do one last rallying cry before the election on Tuesday,” Ms Boyle said.
“My mother, at a very young age, she was progressive and she instilled in us women’s rights and human rights, and we’re trying to carry the torch.”
When talking about the younger women in their life, Kim said: “We’re doing this for them.”
The group found their original pink “pussyhats” and took a road trip to the Capitol.
Women’s March began the day after Trump was inaugurated in 2017, and highlighted his rhetoric and policy positions. They have been an annual fixture since.
At the time, some estimates put the size of the demonstration in Washington at almost 500,000 people. Millions participated around the country.
This year’s event saw people travel from as far away as Washington state, signalling a revival of the movement now Trump is potentially just days away from winning another term.
Organisers originally planned the events to send a message to the new president, whose candidacy was punctuated by criticisms about his attitude towards women.
At the forefront of those was the publication of a video from 2005 – known as the Access Hollywood tape – which involved Trump making multiple crude comments about women.
In the recording, Trump could be heard saying “you can do anything” to women if you are “a star” including “grab ’em by the pussy”.
Subsequently, distinctive pink “pussyhats” — which were the result of a countrywide craft campaign and donned by many march attendees — became synonymous with the movement.
4 things to know about the weather:
- Grab the umbrella
- Big temperature ranges
- Thunder possible Thursday night
- Warmer days on the way
Heads up commuters! For Thursday morning, there will be some thick fog in spots with some rain possible, especially around the Mason-Dixon line. The fog should clear out by 10 a.m.
Throughout the day, some sunshine should develop with highs warming into the low 60s. Those in Northern Maryland could see some showers throughout the day but those near the D.C. area will stay relatively dry except for a stray shower or two.
Some rain and evening storms by 8 p.m. will impact the area Thursday night. Although it’s a bit unusual for this time of year, don’t be surprised if you hear thunder Thursday evening.
Warmer temperatures coming this weekend
These next few days will come with some major forecast challenges.
Much, much warmer air is just to our south and cold, high pressure is moving into New England. The front separating the 40s from the 70s will be laying right across our region for the next two to three days.
So keep in mind, when you’re looking at the forecast highs in the text below, that it will be warmest in Fredericksburg, VA and coolest in northern Maryland.
Friday’s weather will be similar as a front system remains just over the area, separating chilly air to the north and warmer air to the south. There might be a stray shower or two, too.
For the weekend, Saturday looks to be the warmer of the two days with highs in the low to mid 70s. Some rain overnight Saturday will lead to cooler temperatures on Sunday.
Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to check the weather radar on the go.
QuickCast
THURSDAY:
Mostly Cloudy
Stray Shower Possible
Big Temperature Range
Wind: Southeast 5 mph
Chance of Rain: 40%
HIGHS: 62° to 72°
THURSDAY NIGHT:
Cloudy And Chilly
Rain Likely
Some Thunder Possible
Wind: Northeast 5 mph
Chance Of Rain: 70%
LOWS: 44° to 54°
FRIDAY:
Mostly Cloudy
Cooler For Most
Isolated Shower Or Two
Wind: East 5-15 mph
Chance of Rain: 20%
HIGHS: 52° to 68°
SATURDAY:
Partly Sunny
Breezy And Warmer
Isolated Shower
Wind: Southwest 10-20 mph
Chance of Rain: 20%
HIGHS: 66° to 78°
SUNDAY:
Mostly Cloudy
Cooler
Few Showers Possible
Wind: Northwest 5-15 mph
Chance of Rain: 20%
HIGHS: 64° to 72°
Sunrise: 6:35 Sunset: 6:05
Average High: 53° Average Low: 36°
Stay with Storm Team4 for the latest forecast. Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to get severe weather alerts on your phone.
WASHINGTON (7News) — D.C. taxpayers may be confused by back-and-forth between the D.C. City Council and Congress over taxprovision. The city’s financial officer sent a letter to Mayor Muriel Bowser and D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson, that said the District’s tax laws will not change, despite recent actions by Congress.
7News spoke to director of Tax Policy at the Center for American Progress Corey Husak to explain the complicated tax policy.
“The short answer is, nothing changes. Filing Season can continue as it has been, continue as planned, and according to the laws as we understood them in January,” said Husak.
“If you’ve already filed your taxes, you don’t have to change anything. And if you want to file your taxes, the rules are still the same as they were on the books before,” said Husak.
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Chief Financial Officer Glen Lee’s revenue estimate issued Friday does not include an estimated $180 million expected this fiscal year from the city’s decoupling law, “due to the uncertainty of the associated revenue as a result of Joint Resolution 142,” according to a released letter.
“The CFO was in a tough spot here. If he agreed with Congress, then businesses and overtime workers will get bigger refunds. But if he agreed with the Mayor and the Attorney General, then families with children and lower income workers would get bigger tax cuts,” said Husak.
SEE MORE | Development of new Commanders stadium scrutinized at DC oversight hearing
“We as District residents can’t control, you know what happens in the courts, what happens in, you know, what Congress does in the future,” said Husak. “But for now, the CFO has said, you know this is, this is a law as it stands, and the law that I’m going to enforce so, you know, file your legally obligated taxes, and maybe in the future, there’ll be a surprise.”
WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW
7News spoke to director of Tax Policy at the Center for American Progress Corey Husak to explain the complicated tax policy (7News).{ }
WASHINGTON (7News) — The nation’s capital is just about ready to be transformed into a breathtaking pastel landscape of cherry trees in bloom. The famed blossoms around the Tidal Basin are not only a symbol of spring’s arrival, but also of a long-standing friendship — a gift of more than 3,000 trees from Tokyo, Japan, to the United States in 1912.
So what is considered “Peak Bloom”?
The National Park Service (NPS) defines peak bloom as the time when at least 70% of the Yoshino cherry trees around the Tidal Basin have opened their blossoms. This is the period when the blossoms appear most full and spectacular and most ideal for photos, and soaking up spring’s beauty here in DC.
Because cherry trees respond to the cumulative effects of winter and spring weather, especially daily temperatures, it’s very difficult to predict peak bloom more than about 10 days in advance. Warm spells accelerate blooming; cold snaps slow it down.
Average Timing — What History Shows
Since 1921 overall, national data indicate peak bloom typically fell around early April (April 4), based on historical averages.
Since 1990, the average has kept shifting earlier and earlier. In fact, the last 6 years our peak has occurred in late March.
These shifts reflect how warmer springs have nudged peak bloom earlier over the decades.
Earliest & Latest Blooms on Record
Earliest peak bloom: March 15 — recorded in 1990.
Latest peak bloom: April 18 — recorded in 1958.
Of course, most years fall between those dates, with the last week of March to the first week of April historically being the most consistent window for peak bloom.
Earliest Peak Bloom Washington DC
Recent peak blooms show how variable and climate-dependent the timing can be:
2025: The National Park Service predicted peak bloom between March 28–31 (and confirmed the official peak around March 28).
2024: Peak bloom arrived very early, on March 17, several days ahead of NPS projections — tied for one of the earliest peaks in decades.
These examples demonstrate not only how much each season can differ, but also a trend toward earlier spring blossoms in recent years.
What to Expect for Spring 2026
As of early March 2026, the cherry trees are still dormant. The buds haven’t begun significant growth yet. The weather will become more critical in the weeks leading up to the bloom will be the biggest factor in determining when peak bloom happens in 2026.
Heavy winter cold, as experienced this year, tends to delay bloom compared with recent early springs. In contrast, an early warm stretch could push peak bloom earlier — as long as it doesn’t come with subsequent frost.
Look for the green bud stage first. This is when the buds are small, tight, and green, with no sign of petals yet. Trees are still several weeks from blooming.
Tips for Cherry Blossom Visitors
Plan in the “sweet spot” — peak bloom often lasts a few days to about a week, but weather (rain, wind, heat) can shorten that window.
Visit slightly before or after the predicted peak dates for smaller crowds and extended color. Blossoms can be gorgeous even before 70% bloom or as petals begin falling.
Check NPS updates and First Alert Weather forecasts in late March for tweaked peak bloom dates.
The cherry blossoms of Washington, D.C. remain one of the most iconic harbingers of spring in the U.S., and while exact bloom dates vary year-to-year, history and natural patterns point to late March through early April as your best bet for seeing the Tidal Basin in full floral glory.
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