Washington, D.C.-based photographer Katie Jett Walls felt it was her duty to document the scene on the ground at both the Inauguration of Donald Trump and the Women’s March. What she discovered was two very different emotional experiences.
“I photograph what’s happening in my city on the most mundane of days, but this new kind of presidency ― which is anything but mundane ― was about unfold in my backyard,” Katie said. “I felt an obligation to be on hand to document it. Once I got through a congested checkpoint, I spent most of Friday in the fray around the inaugural parade, in the vicinity of the large protest staged by ANSWER Coalition at the Navy Memorial on Pennsylvania Avenue. The photos here are both outside and within the checkpoint, taken between 10:30 and 4 p.m. on Friday, January 20th, 2017.”
Here are some of the scenes she captured at the Inauguration:
“Gotta make a living.”
Taken around 4:30pm
Looking for a way to Pennsylvania Ave.
MAGA family looking for a spot for the parade, around noon.
A very happy Trump supporter
Barricade on 9th Street.
8th street, 1/2 block above the checkpoint entrance, around 11am
Office building on 8th Street. They put this up as the crowd watched. A cheer went up as they last letter went into place.
A Sikh couple on 8th street.
Supporters trying to find an entrance that wasn’t backed up.
I made it through a checkpoint (no pictures because I had to turn off my camera and let them inspect it). So this is Pennsylvania Ave around noon.
“Dedication”
Waiting for the big moment
There was a lot of waiting.
Juxtaposition.
“This guy was super sweet. He's from York, PA, and created this doll. He hopes it can help bring people together around common goals like improving education, finding healthcare solutions and making sure people can get good jobs. He said, ‘I get the impression you and I don't see eye to eye but I really enjoyed talking to you.’”
Around 1:30 (note the yawn)
Little ones
Boy in stocking MAGA cap
Punk AF
As more people got through the checkpoints it started to fill up more.
The 45th President of the United States
The Trump supporter on the right is draped in a flag with Aryan runes and a Neo-Nazi symbol called a “Valknot.”
And here are some moments she captured at the Women’s March on Washington:
Pennsylvania Ave, about 7th Street, looking toward the Capitol.
“Options.”
Strength. Dignity.
“Feminist as fuck
(Explaining "as fuck" to the grandma marching with us was fairly awesome. "It means 'the most you can possibly be of' whatever thing you're being.") Grandma got it.”
“Oh hai John Kerry.”
“Pink Pussy Hats.”
“Radiant. Hopeful.”
“Outta fucks and full of joy.”
Remember those empty inauguration bleachers? They’re full now.
“I waited until they lifted their signs, for reasons. (As we were cheered on from the balcony of the Newseum, and the crowd chanted Freedom of the Press.)”
“Take a look. This is 7th and D. As you look down the sea of people, the light colored horizontal stripe is Pennsylvania Ave, and the sea beyond that is 7th crossing the Mall toward Independence. If you know DC you'll find this as gleeful as I do.”
On 7th Street in Chinatown, where it was like Mardi Gras with music and dancing.
A people united.
Her gaze.
A flatbed truck, probably there to remove inauguration bleachers and barricades, acts as a temporary stage.
These girls!
Independence Ave, at the Capitol, looking toward where the stage sits in the distance at 3rd.
At the botanical garden on Independence looking back up the hill toward the Capitol, a sea of Marchers flowing in, around 10:30am
This girl was about 2. I asked her mom "how's she doing?" and her mom replied, "Great! She's nasty: she'll survive."
This was getting a lot of laughs.
There was so much smiling. All the smiling.
Smiles everywhere.
He came out in his pink pussy hat.
“I'm always moved by this inscription on the Newseum. Especially when I'm in the process of doing what it says.”
“Look at her leading the way, hand in hand with mom. When she's president, this photo will be worth a fortune.”
Before you accuse Walls of photo manipulation of the inaugural attendees (or lack thereof), here’s what she (sarcastically) said: “Getting through the record breaking crowd was hard, yes. But getting them all to move out of the way in order to create an illusion of ‘not very crowded at all’ ... then photoshopping in protest signs over 75 percent of the crowd ... THAT was impossible. Literally impossible.”
We suspect she may be giving #alternativefacts.
To see more of Katie Jett Walls’ photography, check out her website here.