Hundreds of Pittsburghers will head to Washington D.C. this weekend to participate in protests and events coinciding President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Events Friday and Saturday range from the Women’s March on Washington, which is expected to draw thousands -- even "upstaging" the inauguration itself, to the un-permitted blockading of checkpoints to the inaugural parade route.
Fight Back Pittsburgh organizer Patrick Young said his organization is taking more than 100 Pittsburghers to D.C.
“We’re encouraging everyone to make their own choices about what type of actions, if people have plans to engage in civil disobedience or go to marches or rallies that are un-permitted," Young said. "We encourage everybody to have a plan what to do in the event if told to disperse, or rounded up and arrested.”
He said attendees should also plan ahead for the long, cold days spent outdoors. He says about one-third of the people joining Fight Back Pittsburgh are activists regularly involved in Pittsburgh, another third are local students and the other participants, “have really come out of the woodwork and we don’t know exactly where they came from.”
Young said experienced D.C. organizers will supply additional logistical and legal support.
More Pittsburghers are traveling on their own and with union groups. SEIU Healthcare PA is also taking about 60 people to D.C.
