4/5 At the rally from Bryant to Madison Square in intermittent, drizzling rain. Feelings of reassurance and community, even enthusiasm, and also trance. Yet – it is quite stunning how even an event of some 100,000 people is completely absorbed by Manhattan. Even only one block away you have no idea it is happening. It is not that as you get closer in the Uber, you’d see more and more people who are doubtlessly on their way there. No, it’s just the usual tourists and shoppers, until you do reach Bryant Square, and even there you have to look twice to make sure that yes, this is indeed the protest. And at the end, when the 100,000 reach Madison Square, they disperse in barely 20 minutes. You’d imagine you’d be stuck there for hours, not being able to get an Uber out, but no, it arrives, after being ordered, in 1 minute.

There are only so many things you do on a march. Have a witty poster, and study the witty posters around you with some curiosity, and occasional giggles. Break into chants for a while: Show me what democracy looks like! – This is what democracy looks like! They will last for a few repetitions, then die off. Drummers at random positions in the crowd will keep some chants alive a little longer. A wave of swelling, loud shouts, along with rattling instruments will sometimes run through the crowd and, once again, die off. Photos are being taken everywhere, and sometimes you realize that you and your sign have been picked by someone, which is a bit of an honor.