The Women’s March on Washington was an overwhelming success. Not only did it provide a stirring show of solidarity for the millions of people who participated, in the United States and around the world, it also positively dwarfed the estimated attendance of the Donald Trump presidential inauguration just one day prior.
There was also a very familiar face that kept popping up again and again. Carrie Fisher, who died last month, was shown on signs all over, leaning into her role as Star Wars rebellion leader Princess Leia.
Given the impassioned protest and the sense of resistance against the incoming administration, it’s no surprise that a pop culture emblem of resistance like Leia would be an appealing image. And one of her iconic co-stars is totally behind the politically charged tributes.
That would be Mark Hamill, Luke Skywalker himself. In a tweet sent out during all the marching and demonstrating, he hailed the people using Fisher’s image, tweeting “I know where she stood. You know where she stood.”
I know where she stood. You know where she stood. Such an honor to see her standing with you today. Bigly. #Resistance #WorldWideWomensMarch pic.twitter.com/cwsgoYVSU7
— Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) January 21, 2017
He wasn’t kidding, either. Multiple images of Leia were spotted during the protests, holding up the Princess-turned-General from “a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away” as an emblem of political resistance in the here and now.
A powerful image from today's women's march on Washington. Carrie Fisher still inspiring a generation to RESIST and REBEL! There is #Hope. pic.twitter.com/IjLqNOfwKO
— Ǥ✪ɃɌƗΞŁ ǤɌ✪Ɏ (@GBRIELGRY) January 22, 2017
A tribute to Carrie Fisher at the Women's March in Los Angeles today #dtla #WomensMarch #Womensmarchla @nbcla pic.twitter.com/y34KoAWFiG
— Angie Crouch (@AngieNBCLA) January 22, 2017
My wife raising high the poster she designed today at the march. #WomensMarch #womensmarchlosangeles #CarrieFisher #proudhusband pic.twitter.com/sl8QEDYDAy
— Scott Witter (@WitterPhoto) January 22, 2017
https://twitter.com/youngmarwalan/status/823014718906499073
Fisher made no secret of her disdain for the then-presidential candidate last October, just one month prior to Election Day. Specifically, Fisher called Trump a “classless thug” in a tweet.
Donald trump is a classless thug Trying 2 scare us in2 voting 4 him-an entitled, elitist, racist misogynist-dangerous, unkind & w/o empathy pic.twitter.com/CaWPgjd03J
— Carrie Fisher (@carrieffisher) October 10, 2016
Hamill has not been shy about his dim view of Trump either. To the contrary, he’s frequently tweeted negative views of the president since his election victory in November.
In short, it’s a safe bet that Fisher would’ve been enthusiastic about all the tributes and statements being made in her image. As for the protests themselves, estimates suggest they drew out millions of demonstrators around the world.