- Organizer Estimates: The groups behind the protests, including over 150 organizations like MoveOn and Indivisible, initially reported more than 500,000 RSVPs by Friday night, April 4, 2025. By Saturday, April 5, after the events, some organizers claimed attendance far exceeded expectations, with estimates ranging from "hundreds of thousands" to "millions." For example, one report suggested cities like Washington, D.C., and New York City each saw over 100,000 attendees, while Raleigh, North Carolina, reportedly had 45,000 show up despite only 2,000 RSVPs.
- Media Reports:
- Al Jazeera reported "tens of thousands" nationwide, with organizers estimating over 250,000 participants.
- The Guardian cited organizers claiming "more than 500,000" demonstrated across the U.S., including in Washington, D.C., and Florida.
- Rolling Stone echoed "hundreds of thousands" across all 50 states and globally, with over 500,000 RSVPs noted pre-event.
- Axios mentioned "millions" by organizers’ counts, though this seems to reflect a high-end extrapolation rather than a verified total.
- Posts on X from users like @Sklp795L claimed "500,000 to over 1 million," reflecting sentiment but not necessarily hard data.
- Specific Locations:
- Washington, D.C.: Organizers expected 20,000 at the National Mall but reported far higher turnout—potentially over 100,000 based on crowd descriptions and organizer statements.
- New York City: Similarly, reports suggest over 100,000, though exact counts are unconfirmed.
- Smaller Cities: Places like St. Joseph, Michigan, and Macon, Georgia, saw hundreds per event, while Chicago and Boston had thousands.
- Challenges in Counting: The sheer scale—over 1,200 rallies—makes a precise total elusive. Local reports vary (e.g., "hundreds" in St. Joseph vs. "tens of thousands" in Paris globally), and no centralized authority tracked every participant. Estimates also differ due to weather (rain in many areas), spontaneous attendance, and the lack of real-time crowd-size verification.
Best Estimate: Combining the data, the total number of protesters likely falls between 250,000 and 1 million across the U.S. The lower end (250,000–500,000) aligns with conservative media tallies and pre-event RSVPs adjusted for turnout, while the higher end (up to 1 million or more) reflects organizer claims and the potential for underreported participation in smaller towns. Without a definitive count, I’d lean toward 500,000–750,000 as a reasonable middle ground, acknowledging the event’s scale but tempering the most optimistic figures.
@Grok