The following is a list of rallies and protest marches in Washington, D.C., which shows the variety of expression of notable political views. Events at the National Mall are located somewhere between the United States Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial. The Mall is regulated by the National Park Service which is required to respect the free speech rights of Americans.
Following a controversy over the Million Man March in 1995, the National Park Service stopped releasing crowd size estimates for rallies on the National Mall. Crowd estimates after that point have come from protest organizers, researchers or news outlets. Owing to different methodologies, estimates can vary greatly.
Most marches and rallies in Washington are one-time events. Two exceptions are the March for Life and Rolling Thunder, both held annually. The March for Life is a protest against abortion held on or near January 22 marking the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court case legalizing abortion. The march has been held annually since 1974, typically drawing several hundred thousand demonstrators. Rolling Thunder is a motorcycle demonstration held since 1987 on Memorial Day to raise awareness of issues related to American Prisoner of War/Missing in action.
Before 1900
Date Name Description1894 March 16 - May 1Fry's ArmyProtest march by unemployed workers.1894 March 25 - May 1Coxey's ArmyProtest march by unemployed workers.
1900–1949 Date Name Description 1913 March 3 Woman Suffrage Procession 5,000 march to support women's voting rights the day President-elect Woodrow Wilson arrived for his swearing in the next day. 1914 April–May Coxey's Army 1925 August 8 Ku Klux Klan march Between 25,000 and 50,000 Ku Klux Klan members march to show support for the KKK and demand immigration restrictions based on race and nation of origin. 1931 December 6 Hunger March Communist-led march of unemployed workers from across the country."Red 'Hunger March' Gets Gay Send-Off: Fed and Warmly Clothed, 600 in Trucks and Cars Start for Capital Demonstration." New York Times: 3. December 1, 1932. ProQuest Historical Newspapers Web. December 8, 2014. 1932 January 6 Cox's Army A march of 25,000 unemployed Pennsylvanians to encourage Congress to start a public works program. 1932 May–July Bonus Army March by 20,000 World War I veterans and their families seeking advance payment of bonuses from the Hoover administration; two killed. 1939 April 9 Marian Anderson concert 75,000 estimated attendance. Integrated concert at Lincoln Memorial held in response to the Daughters of the American Revolution refusal to host her performance 1943 – October 6 Rabbis' march Protest for American and allied action to stop the destruction of European Jewry.
1950–1999