2022 in photos

So much goes on in D.C., as people live ordinary lives surrounded by the center of government. Here’s just a fraction of what we’ve seen this year.

The return of traditional celebrations

While the pandemic still affects so many things, most of the traditional celebrations came back this year.

Cherry Blossom Parade

©Victoria Pickering

Emancipation Day Parade

Mayor Bowser at the parade ©Victoria Pickering

Pride Parade

©Rob Klug

Juneteenth

©Miki Jourdan

Smithsonian Folklife Festival

©Miki Jourdan

July 4th

©Rob Klug

Fiesta D.C. Parade

©Miki Jourdan

H Street Festival

©Miki Jourdan

Art All Night

©Angela N.

High Heel Race

©Angela N.

Activism

Roe v. Wade overturned

The biggest domestic issue that gripped the city was the overturning of Roe after 50 years.

Here’s the scene as people rushed to the Supreme Court the night the draft opinion was leaked:

©Miki Jourdan

A couple of weeks later, there was a massive Bans Off Our Bodies march:

©Rob Klug

Here’s the scene in front of the Court the moment the final decision was released – with demonstrators on both sides:

©Victoria Pickering
©Victoria Pickering

After the decision, there were many days and nights when people came to the Court, most in disbelief and mourning, and some in celebration:

©Miki Jourdan
©Victoria Pickering

A few weeks later, a “Summer of Rage” march continued the protests.

©Victoria Pickering

Woman’s March

The Woman’s March took place shortly before the midterms, and was a continuation of the protests about Roe.

©Miki Jourdan

Climate activism

There were many climate protests. Here’s one at the D.C. building:

©Victoria Pickering

Jane Fonda came to D.C. in December to continue her Fire Drill Fridays push for more action against climate change.

Jane Fonda speaking at Freedom Plaza ©Victoria Pickering

Gun violence

Demonstrations against gun violence continued throughout the year, led by young activists:

©Rob Klug

A huge March for Our Lives rally took place in April:

©Victoria Pickering

LGBTQ rights

The Supreme Court heard a case in December that could change whether businesses can refuse to serve some customers. A decision won’t be made until spring.

Poor People’s Campaign

Reverend William Barber spearheaded a revival of the Poor People’s Campaign of 1968, with a large rally in June bringing attention to poverty and workers’ rights.

©Victoria Pickering

Foreign Affairs

There are protests throughout the year for many different issues happening in places all over the world, but the two big issues this year have been the war in Ukraine and the shutdown of women’s rights in Iran.

Ukraine

Marie Yovanovitch, the former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine ©Miki Jourdan
©Rob Klug

Iran

©Miki Jourdan
©Rob Klug

Political and military

January 6th hearings

The January 6th hearings became riveting TV.

Officer Harry Dunn and Sandra Garza, the partner of Brian Sicknick, as they arrive for the first night of the January 6th hearings. ©Victoria Pickering

Justice Jackson appointed to the Supreme Court

Celebrating Justice Jackson at the Supreme Court ©Miki Jourdan

40th Anniversary of the Vietnam Memorial

In honor of the 40th anniversary of the Memorial, volunteers read every name inscribed on the wall over a four-day period in November.

©Rob Klug

PACT Act

The PACT Act struggled through Congress, but was finally passed to give health care to veterans who suffer from exposure to burn pits and other toxic substances. There was a muted celebration of its passage outside the Capitol:

©Victoria Pickering

Death of Queen Elizabeth

Queen Elizabeth was mourned in many places, especially outside the British Embassy:

©Victoria Pickering

Nature

Despite all the terrible events, the city continued to amaze us with the natural world that thrives here.

Snowy owl

Early in the year, a snowy owl came to Union Station for a few weeks, visible at night usually perching on the top of the statue in front of the station.

©Angela N.

Qiao Xi Jin grows up

Baby panda Qiao Xi Jin is now two years old, and he and his mother still play together.

©Angela N.

Nature all over the city

The duck ramp at the Capitol Reflecting Pool ©Angela N.
Rock Creek Park. ©Rob Klug
Rock Creek Park ©Rob Klug
Dragonfly and lotus at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. ©Miki Jourdan

The beauty of the city

Spring and fall views from the Washington Monument

©Angela N.

Spring and fall glory:

©Rob Klug

©Angela N.

Sunsets:

Sunset viewed from the Capitol grounds. ©Angela N.

New developments

Korean War Memorial expansion

The Korean War Memorial opened a wall of remembrance, with the names of those who died in the war.

©Angela N.

Senate Park

Senate Park reopened after a multi-year project.

©Angela N.

Rubell Museum

The Rubell Museum opened in the old Randall School, showcasing contemporary art from the Rubells’ collection – and they’ve made it free for D.C. residents.

Vaughn Spann’s “Big Black Rainbow (Smoky Eyes)” ©Victoria Pickering

There’s so much we are not showing here – some of which is difficult to put into words or photos, especially the ongoing suffering from the pandemic, and the lives that are lived in difficult economic and social circumstances. We wish everyone the best for 2023.

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