Statement on Gathering for Justice (Women's March) Request

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News Release Date: December 10, 2016
Contact: Mike Litterst, 202-245-4676

The National Park Service has received a request from the Gathering for Justice to conduct an event (commonly referred to as the Women’s March on Washington) on January 21 at various public sites in Washington, D.C., to include the Lincoln Memorial.  

An application for use of the Lincoln Memorial had previously been submitted by the Presidential Inaugural Committee and therefore may not be available for additional permitted events on January 21. The Lincoln Memorial is among the eight sites permitted to the committee approximately one year ago to stage the inaugural celebration every four years.
 
When there is a conflict of time and location for events on the National Mall, precedence is established by the order in which the permit application was received.  Providing the space required for the presidential inauguration, while also accommodating the free speech rights of protesters and supporters, is a longstanding responsibility for the National Park Service.  The National Park Service has not denied the Gathering for Justice’s permit request and we continue to work with them through this permitting process to identify locations within or near the National Mall where they can safely gather and exercise their First Amendment-guaranteed rights of free speech and assembly.  
 

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