I went to the LA one in the afternoon. The crowd had died a bit, but downtown was still filled with people. I only saw one person screaming their head off at people, but I think she lived in Pershing Square.
I was expecting to be surrounded by insufferable SoCal hippie crystal drum circles, but I literally saw everyone. I saw all types, including some MAGA hats. But it was completely peaceful and lovely and overall a giant relief. To reiterate Lemon's statements, it was a very collective feeling of reassurance. We aren't just going nuts by ourselves, we are surrounded by good-hearted people who are at least on the side of kindness and decency.
There were a lot of crummy, mean-spirited placquards and signs, but that's gonna happen. Most of the signs and slogans and such were fine or funny or heart-warming. But no one was shouting at each other for not being a perfect liberal or any other moral policing.
I know this is positive-sexism, but it shouldn't be lost on anyone that this event organized by women in support of women went off without a hitch. As far as I have heard, no one has been arrested around the country at any Women's March. I know in Los Angeles, the organizers planned for 80,000 and over 750,000 came out. That is a testament to what happens when women run things and men shut the fuck up. (This is a gross oversimplification, but I'm a crappy comedy writer and not a sociologist. Forgive me.)
Another thing worth noting is that I take a great deal of pride being a member of this generation. Most of the people my age are good-hearted, politically-active folks who dabble in dirtbaggery. I saw a ton of folks taking selfies all afternoon, which a more cynical version of myself would find offensive. Making a day of protest about yourself. However, they came out, they showed up to be counted, and they are proving to their friends, family, and future selves that they were there. When we took a headcount to reject American Fascism, we not only came out to be counted, but we came camera-ready.
Did we solve anything? No, but the Women's March emboldened not only the marchers, but everyone who could only read about it and see the turnout on the news and Americans of the future. It was a nice antidote to 2016.