The Impact of Weather on Protests in the Washington, D.C., Area

Severe weather events such as hurricanes or tornadoes can lead the news cycle for weeks, with stories focusing on the tragic loss of life and property that often accompany them. On other days, however, people hear little about the weather beyond the daily forecast. Consequently, the significance of weather on the way historical events unfold is often overlooked, particularly when the weather is calm. The impact weather has on matters of national security can be extremely important as it crucially affects the movement and preparedness of actors on both sides of an issue. In studying the weather and official planning and response during four recent protests in the Washington, D.C. area – March for Life 2016, Women’s March 2017, Black Lives Matter 2020, and the events of 6 January 2021 – this project will increase understanding of how weather informs official response to weather during free speech events to ensure the safety of protesters, law enforcement officers, and passersby alike. This was completed through in-depth case studies to determine how well-forecast the days of the events were followed by analyzing documents and firsthand accounts to understand how this information was used. This study found that protesters will demonstrate in inclement weather and therefore officials and law enforcement need to be prepared to respond to both peaceful and violent protests in a variety of conditions.