More than a thousand marchers, led by a group of veterans, marched in the streets of D.C. Saturday afternoon, dropping f-words and other strong language to express pro-impeachment sentiments.
Veterans at the front carried a 25-foot banner that read “The Constitution is not a … suggestion. Impeach. Convict. Remove.”
Thomas Sidle, an Army veteran and the founder of March 4 Democracy, stylized as M4D to resemble the word “mad,” said the movement’s use of strong language to express anger has resonated with people.
“We use the message of everyday people,” Sidle told Capital News Service. “How would a veteran speak to you? How would somebody that is frustrated speak to you? We’re speaking in the language of frustration.”
Veterans and other speakers at the rally leading up to the march listed the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the failure to release the full, unredacted Epstein files, the outbreak of conflict in Iran and more as justification for their calls to impeach the president.
Randy Kindle, a member of the pro-impeachment group For Liberation And Resistance Everywhere (FLARE), called for U.S. representatives to offer a resolution for impeachment under Rule IX, which would force House leaders to schedule a time to consider the resolution within two legislative days.
“They have that power to hold Congress up to stop Donald Trump, and they have refused,” Kindle said.
Along with the leading banner, marchers in the back carried a 120-foot-long recreation of the Constitution. At the bottom of the document, participants wrote their signatures and pro-democracy messages using Sharpies with colorful feathers taped to them.
“Something has to be done,” marcher and FLARE follower Victoria Williamson from North Carolina said. “I can’t sit on my sofa anymore, you know, sit at the computer and just rage. I need to rage in person.”
The day before the protest, M4D and FLARE also led impeachment lobbying meetings on Capitol Hill.
Sidle said he was inspired to bring veterans and civilians together to demonstrate in the capital after seeing the success of the nationwide No Kings protests last year.
“I need veterans across the United States to understand that you are a leader, and the civilians of this country are looking at you,” Sidle said.
The other speakers at the protest agreed, including veteran Daniella Young.
“All we need to do is show up, open our mouths,” Young said. “Donald Trump cannot take the people of the United States and 8% of us [veterans] standing up. The military wouldn’t even take that fight because they know they will lose.”
This message struck a chord with many veterans there.
“I’m out here because I am a veteran,” Ronnie Easton, who spoke at the rally, said. “I swore an oath. That oath has no expiration date, so therefore, I am a warrior until the day I die. That oath said that you will defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and right now … domestic.”