I think I have more Facebook invitations to different demonstrations in Washington D.C. and New York this Friday than I have friends. If you live within a hundred miles of either city, it’s likely you already have inauguration protest plans. For those of us not presently near the respective political and media capitals, it can feel like we’re left out of the party. But don’t fret: we’ve reached out to artists in seven cities where we have a large number of readers—Baltimore, the Bay Area, Berlin, Chicago, Los Angeles, Mexico City, and Philadelphia—and got the scoop on where you can go while joining us in the #J20 art strike. It’s incredibly inspiring to see hundreds of thousands of RSVPs across the country and beyond. And after the demonstrations, we’ve found some fun nighttime activities to raise funds and solidarity for the long fight ahead.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 20TH
Baltimore
Day: GO MARCH IN DC!
It’s a super-fast, super cheap MARC train ride, straight to the middle of the action. I know it’s a point of local pride that Baltimoreans turn the fuck out for protests, but let’s take the battle to them for once.
Night: Nasty Women & Bad Hombres: Inauguration Night in Baltimore
The Creative Alliance
3134 Eastern Ave, Baltimore, Maryland 21224
8:00 p.m. – 11:59 p.m.
Nonprofit art space The Creative Alliance is throwing a fundraiser ($15 suggested donation) for their program Artesenas Mexicanas, and it looks to be the stuff of Republican pesadillas on every level. Queer B-More Club diva TT The Artist (authoress of hits such as “I Just Want My Pussy Ate”) will be performing at a wild dance party. There will also be a drag soiree hosted by queen Betty O’Hellno, and collective project b1 will be hosting a workshop to make banners, which will be delivered to the White House on February 1st. Piñatas will be involved, and we have a suspicion certain political figures might be depicted in the craft.
Bay Area
Day: Protests Everywhere
Throughout Inauguration Day, famously rebellious Bay Area folx will be taking to the streets. In Oakland, there’s a whole day of actions, from teach-ins to protests of the ICE, starting early at 7 a.m. Across the bay, the day kicks off at 11:30 a.m. with a Pussy March from Market Street’s Embarcadero Station. Attendees of all genders are encouraged to wear “pussy protectors.” That wraps up around 2:00 p.m. Later, the local chapter of A.N.S.W.E.R. (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) is hosting an anti-Trump rally at United Nations Plaza (Civic Center BART station) at 5:00 p.m.
Night: 100 Days Action Inaugural Ball
Royal Nonesuch Gallery
4231 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland , CA , 94609
7:00 p.m. -10:00 p.m.
100 Days Action is a group of artists and activists looking to counter Trump’s first 100 days in office with actions of their own. To celebrate their own “inauguration,” they’re throwing a “fancy” ball, complete with drinks, a swearing-in ceremony (on a book of your choice, to a deity of your choice) and a performance by L.A. artist Teresita De La Torre, among others. If you’re planning on wearing heels to the ball, pack flats for the day’s many marches (I speak from experience).
Berlin
No to Global Trumpism at Brandenburg Tor
March begins at Alternativ für Deutschland, Schillstraße 9 at 5:00 p.m.
Rally at Brandenburg Gate at 6:00 p.m.
Berliners know a thing or two about how bad of an idea walls are. That’s why an infamous border crossing is the perfect spot to say no to Trump’s xenophobic agenda and the potential rise of similar Right-Wing politicians across Europe.
The next day, at 11 a.m., there will be a solidarity Women’s March on Washington in Berlin, also at Brandenburg Gate and the American Embassy.
Chicago
Day: Protest at Trump Tower
401 N. WABASH AVENUE, Chicago, Illinois 60611
5:00 p.m. – 11:59 p.m.
Night: Hail to the Queef! A Middle Finger to the New Administration
Call Bar
1547 W Bryn Mawr Ave, Chicago, Illinois 60660
9:30 – 12:03 p.m.
Another evening of drag and burlesque, this time in support of The Southern Poverty Law Center. Bring $10, and marvel at the amazingness of this pun I wish I had come up with.
Performers: Emma Glitterbomb, Willie LaQueue, Mo Less, Hot Lunch, Diva LaVida, Rosemary Maybe, Ashley Morgan, Coco Sho-Nell, Whiskey Sixx, Jimmie Swagger, Hot Tawdry, Cruel Valentine, Prima Vera, Dirty Bird Burlesque, Nelly Clementine
Los Angeles
Day: United Against Hate-Inauguration March Los Angeles
Olympic & Figueroa- LA Live
800 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, California 90015
11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Night: Fight the Power: Inauguration night at Cinefamily
611 N Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles, 90036
7:30 p.m.
L.A. nonprofit Cinefamily is hosting a screening night of protest films curated by Lost and Found Film Club. It’s free with an RSVP, and includes gems from the 1960s to 1990s.
After the film program, there will be a reception and sign-making party hosted by art collective/DJs Honey Power, in preparation for the LA Women’s March the next day at Pershing Square.
Mexico City
Morning Protests, Evening Protests, Protests All The Time
Ángel de la Independencia (11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.)
Paseo de la Reforma 350, 06500 Mexico City, Mexico
Embajada Estados Unidos en México (4:00 p.m.)
Paseo de la Reforma #305, 06500 Mexico City, Mexico
It should come as a surprise to no one that Donald Trump is really, really unpopular in Mexico. But it might surprise some to know that an estimated 700,000 Americans call this megacity home—meaning more US citizens live here than in our nation’s own capital. And we’re all fucking pissed too. Over the past week I’ve met a bunch of artists here working on a US-MX solidarity group, and we might have some performance shenanigans planned. At least one of the other demonstrations will feature work from local artists, performers, and poets.
But we also realized there are a bunch of other protests that day, centered around the Ángel de la Independencia (a national symbol) and the American Embassy. Conveniently, those two spots are a block apart. And they’re just on the edge of the city’s infamously rowdy gayborhood.
All of this is going down while Mexico is extremely unhappy with its own president, so demonstrations in the streets are common. At least one of the anti-Trump protests I’ve been invited to features an anti-homophobia march to the cathedral at Zócalo, so who knows where this will end up? But for those of us fortunate enough to be enjoying Mexico’s hospitality to foreigners, it’s important that we show up.
Philadelphia
Day: ResistTrump! Join the Philly Peoples Inauguration!
Thomas Paine Plaza, Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102
3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Night: Riot Nerd Presents: Burlesque & Punk Against Trump
The Barbary
951 Frankford Ave, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19125
7:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Man, if there is one demographic Trump has alienated, it’s gotta be the burlesque community. Here’s another strip-tease fundraiser (with punk bands!) for Planned Parenthood, featuring performances by The Up Up Ups, Kino Kimino, Bare and the Bold Burlesque, lady lazarus, Taylor Sweet, Kate Nyx, and Liberty Rose. There’s also a raffle to benefit PP (the kind Trump doesn’t like), with donations from businesses from guitar stores to tattoo parlors and comic shops. Rad.
$8 advance, $10 at the door
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