Paws Off, Hands Off

The largest set of demonstrations ever held in the U.S. is widely considered to be the Women’s March on January 21, 2017 — the day after Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration.
Women’s March (2017)

• Estimated turnout: Between 3.3 million and 5.2 million people across the U.S.

• Largest single-day protest in U.S. history

• Main issues: Women's rights, reproductive rights, immigration, healthcare, LGBTQ+ rights, racial justice, and opposition to Trump’s policies

• Number of events: Over 650 marches took place in all 50 states

• The largest gatherings were in:

• Washington, D.C. (~500,000)

• Los Angeles (~750,000)

• New York City (~400,000)

• Chicago (~250,000)

Vietnam War Protests

• The 1969 Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam had around 2 million participants nationwide, with over 500,000 in Washington, D.C.

George Floyd / Black Lives Matter Protests (2020)

• Spanned multiple days and weeks

• Estimated 15–26 million people participated over time (making it possibly the largest protest movement in total participation)

LGBTQ+ Rights / Pride Marches

• Major milestone events like the Stonewall 50/WorldPride NYC 2019 drew millions, though they are often celebratory and political.