On Jan. 18, two days before the presidential inauguration, thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Washington, D.C., to rally against the incoming Trump administration. Organized under the banner of the People’s March, the demonstration drew on historical movements and strategies of grassroots activism. Despite its admirable intentions, the march lacked concrete goals — a necessity for creating meaningful change.
The Georgetown University College Democrats (GUCD) were an official partner of the march, sending around 60 members to participate.
Advocacy Director Elinor Clark (CAS ’27) said GUCD was approached by organizers looking for community partners and volunteers.
“Universities are breeding grounds for justice, and GUCD’s partnership shows the nation that young people are organized and ready to fight back against inequality,” Clark said.
Student activism, including on our campus, has long played a critical role in social movements, including Vietnam War protests and recent pro-Palestinian demonstrations. However, the effectiveness of any protest, including those on Georgetown’s campus, depends on its ability to translate outrage into action. Despite its passionate message, the People’s March failed to articulate specific demands, making it more symbolic than substantive.
Effective protests — particularly those that bring about tangible political change — often arise in response to specific government actions with a clear vision for the desired change. For example, student-led protests in Bangladesh successfully challenged Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s regime by mobilizing against a reinstated civil service quota, which resulted in him being ousted. Additionally, two student leaders who spearheaded the protests were appointed to the interim prime minister’s cabinet. Their movement had a clear, achievable goal: the reversal of the quota policy and the end of corruption. By contrast, the People’s March had no such tangible objective.
When asked about the goals of the march, GUCD Membership Director Hannah Gilheany (CAS ’28) said, “It was pretty broad and was to fight for marginalized groups and individuals everywhere who need defense.”
Clark echoed similar statements of Gilheany, saying the People’s March served to make people feel united.
“Many people are scared and feel as though they are alone in this fight,” Clark said. “We want to show the country and the world that we will not take the MAGA threat to democracy lying down.”
While these are noble sentiments, they do not translate into a clear strategy for combating Trump’s policies or his Make America Great Again (MAGA) ideology.
In an era saturated with political discourse on social media and 24-hour news cycles, protests today have a unique opportunity when it comes to inciting change. Thanks to social media, protests are now much easier to coordinate and publicize, facilitating the support of thousands within seconds.
Yet, alongside the benefits of social media in protesting, there has been a shift in how people engage with activism. Many have become accustomed to expressing support through comments, reposts and upvotes rather than through tangible action. While online advocacy can amplify voices and raise awareness, it often fosters a culture of passive engagement.
While protests as broad expressions of frustration can have value, such as bringing awareness to an issue, tangible goals contribute to progress. Protests must be targeted, strategic and actionable. While large demonstrations like the People’s March may provide a sense of solidarity, they do little to advance a specific political objective without clear demands and follow-up action. Without a defined purpose, protests risk becoming performative rather than productive.
At Georgetown, student activism has a long history, and the engagement seen through organizations like GUCD reflects a commitment to political change. While mass mobilization can be inspiring, raising awareness alone is not sufficient. For student-led activism to be truly effective, we must follow through by organizing peers, engaging in policy discussions and pressuring both local and national leaders to implement meaningful reforms. GUCD members and other politically active students should complement their activism with direct advocacy efforts, grassroots organizing and participation in democratic processes to ensure their voices translate into lasting impact.
While the People’s March may have had an inspiring and important message, it did not march us any further forward.
Charlotte Hibbert is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences. This is the second installment of her column, “Red Square Rhetoric.”
