The Equality March is winding thru downtown to a rally on the National Mall
— John Domen (@JDDsays)
The Equality March winds through downtown D.C. to a rally on the National Mall. (海角精品黑料/John Domen via Twitter).
As people keep streaming in, a sing along has broken out. This is the third song.
— John Domen (@JDDsays)
WASHINGTON 鈥� Thousands marched through the streets of downtown D.C. on Sunday, from near Farragut Square, past the White House, and to the National Mall as part of the 2017 Equality March.
Chants of 鈥淲hat do we want? Equality! When do we want it? Now!鈥� echoed through the streets. Marchers also chanted 鈥淟ove, not hate, makes America great鈥� as they made their way through Lafayette Square.
At the rally on the National Mall, speakers asked for everyone 鈥� regardless of their sexual orientation 鈥� to stand together as one community.
鈥淭he LGBTQ community is black, is Jewish, is Latina, is Muslim, differently abled,鈥� said Sarah Kate Ellis, the president and CEO of GLAAD. 鈥淏i, trans and non-binary. We are women, we are immigrants. We are in every community. And we will stand united.鈥�
Other speakers included former Washington Wizards forward Jason Collins, actor Charlie Carver and actor Asia Kate Dillon. 鈥淲e march to affirm that human beings are far more complex than we ever thought,鈥� Dillon said, adding: 鈥渁nd how beautiful that complexity truly makes every one of us.鈥�
A banner in front of the stage remembered the 49 victims who died in the shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando 364 days ago. Some of the survivors were also there, including Demetrius Knowlings.
鈥淚 was at Pulse that night and lost my best friend Eddie Justice, the gentleman that was in the bathroom texting his mother that he didn鈥檛 want to die. He wanted to live,鈥� said Knowlings, who vowed that 鈥渨e will not go in silence 鈥� we will continue to fight.鈥�
