Dispatch 1 of 2 from your reporter at the Orange County Women’s March: Streets full of thousands of smiles on all kinds of faces. Skies full of sun and cottony clouds. Voices and signs raised in joyful and peaceful resistance. A few of this reporter’s favorite moments:

– We sing “America the Beautiful” together and mine are not the only eyes filled with tears.
– Turns out everyone also knows all the words to “I Will Survive” and “These Boots Are Made For Walkin” so we sing those together too.
– Boy Scouts in their sharply pressed uniforms directing traffic and distributing water next to Planned Parenthood volunteers.
– Grayhaired woman marching with a pair of pink lacy panties on her head.
– Chanting: “Love not hate will make America great.” “Say it loud, say it clear, immigrants are welcome here.”
– Volunteer with bullhorn: “Protect our earth, stay off the grass!” And a wall of protesters magically steps back in unison.
– Two toddlers screaming at the top of their tiny voices, “Tell me what democracy looks like!” And the crowd roars back, “THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE!”