I was one of millions of women around the world who rallied and marched on Saturday, January 21. Three generations of our family were represented, and our little group was joined by a long-time friend who ROARED right along with us.
Our experience, marching at our state capitol building (a notorious site, long controlled by white, privileged, male tea party-ers), was unequivocally positive and affirming.
Speakers representing many oppressed groups spoke repeatedly of the importance of all of us uniting in support of each other. The transgender speaker stood up for the disabled. The disabled speaker cheered on our Black friends. The Unitarian Universalist clergy woman included the Christians, Muslims, Athiests, Agnostics, Jews, Native Americans, and Pagans in her call for advocacy. The Native American speaker honored our collective commitment to Mother Earth.
And the many men in the crowd, representing all ages and generations, shouted right along with us.
Our son came up for this march with a couple of his friends from the Young Democrats Club at their university.
It was a day of beauty, love, support, and unity. A day to energize ourselves into resistance and action against the discrimination and oppression that is already, six days into the new administration, showing up loud and clear.
And almost immediately we began hearing the backlash.
Women who mocked the marchers because they, themselves, had never been discriminated against (lucky them) and didn’t need anyone’s “pity” or any “special treatment.”
Men who characterized the marchers as shrill whiners.
People who dismissed the march as simply being political and anti-Trump.
I’m here to tell you, as someone who was actually there and whose life was changed by the event, that the critics have it 100% wrong.
Keep marching, my sisters. Keep shouting. Keep acting out for the sake of others. Keep resisting.
This world needs you.
Middle proudly carried this sign she’d made in support of her best friend.
Mom Goes On 
Thank you for marching!!
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Glad you had such a positive experience at the march, and how special that you were able to have 3 generations of women from your family together for it! I’m also still getting a kick out of seeing so many different and creatively awesome signs, when I look at photos from marches all over the world.
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I think peace demonstrations are always a good thing! Good for you for marching and being a voice of positivity!!
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Thanks! It was truly an amazing experience.
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Thank you for marching on behalf of all of us. I was unable to march but watched my Facebook feed which was filled with positive, affirming pictures. It was awesome to see everyone joining together and supporting each other. This is how it should always be and I hope it remains this way as we move forward.
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I agree, and thank you for that support. We need each other, and we need to speak out and act out in order to make sure no one gets lost in the ugliness of white male power and privilege.
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