 Don't be a lady, be a legend! #WMOW | The Women's March on Washington was an incredible experience that I'll never forget! While I know that this march started up a lot of controversy about us liberals being snowflakes and some even said that we were paid to march. This couldn't have been farther from the truth. I marched not because I wanted to go against America and the government, but to remind the |
government that I exist. I exist and my voice should be heard. The choices that they make for our future not only affects us, but the future of our children (I will have some someday). I wanted to make myself present to show that I still care what happens with the treatment of women's healthcare in our country. I still care about immigration laws, equal pay, equal treatment to all beings, and the future of our country. Unfortunately this election didn't have good candidates to represent these concerns. Both of them had their issues, but I was afraid that Trump would be more capable and more willing to make bad choices for our country.
All that being said... He is my president unfortunately and all I can do is hope that we can either impeach him if necessary or that he starts making better choices for our country as a whole. Right now we seem to be dividing ourselves here in the states and around the world.
All that being said... He is my president unfortunately and all I can do is hope that we can either impeach him if necessary or that he starts making better choices for our country as a whole. Right now we seem to be dividing ourselves here in the states and around the world.
Women's March on Washington the day after Trump's inauguration
Now let me tell you how amazing this trip was! At first I was scared out of my mind to march because of the riots on the day of the inauguration. People were telling us that we should bring masks and goggles in case of tear gas. They told us to write our names, allergies, blood type, and contact number on our arms in case of an emergency. We packed food and beverages in a clear backpack and brought extra clothes in case the weather got worse. It was scary to think that something could happen to us by supports, angry protesters, or even our law enforcement, but precautions had to be taken.
 Jenni Reilly and her friends march on Washington | We stayed in a hotel (Thanks SuAnne) just a couple of miles away from the Women's March on Wasington. Our plan was to take the metro over to the march, but as we entered the hotel lobby we knew that wasn't going to happen. The entire lobby was filled with women of every shape, color, size, and age and they were all ready to march. Each one had a sign or a shirt that resembled a part of why they were there to march. My fear of this march melted away like the "snowflakes" that we were all prepared to be called. Instead a warm fuzzy fulfilling feeling came over me and I realized that today was going to be a day to celebrate. My friends and I headed outside and we saw groups of pink hats headed down the street heading for the march. If they could walk a couple of miles to the march then so could we. As we got closer I started to see barricades and soldiers standing in a way that looked like they were blocking the entrance. When we got closer we realized that they were there for our safety. Thy cheered us on as we walked by them (of course we thanked them for serving our country as well) and some even clapped and thanked us for marching. |
When we finally got to the rally we realized that we were still 9 blocks or so away from the starting point, but there were too many people to make it any further. So we picked a spot close to the speakers and in front of a TV monitor so we could watch the speakers. This is where we learned that so many other women felt exactly the same way that we did. They said things that made my heart feel so heavy because I couldn't think of a way to explain them myself. America Ferrera was one of the first and her speech brought life to the crowd. Ashley Judd had an amazing speech and she recited a poem that Nina Donovan (a young girl) wrote that was clearly designed to be brought to life like only Ashley Judd could do. Most people think that Ashley Judd was just saying disgusting things, but really this poem was from a frustrated 19yr old girl that was obviously shaken up by Trump becoming our president. There were tons of speakers and performers that got on stage that day, but the sign language ladies were by far the best. I can't imagine how hard it must have been for them to keep up and show such an amazing performance and attitude with their work. I imagine that they were exhausted by the end of the day.
| Now let's talk about the crowd. Oh the crowd. YOU COULD NOT MOVE! There were so many people closed in together that god forbid anything did happen we would have been trampled to death before anything else. I had a ponytail in my face, an elbow on my breast, my friend's arm to my right, and thank goodness for the backpack because that at least kept people off of my back a little. There were women that were having panic attacks and being rushed out of the crowd by friends that could lift them. There were people on top of truck, port-o-potties, walls, and even some in trees just to get away from the crowd. While there were port-o-potties it was almost impossible to get to one. We stood there for 5 or 6 hours not being able to move. Not being able to bend, sit, sway, lift your arms, nada. At one point I had to start looking at my feet because I was getting dizzy from looking at all the people and feeling claustrophobic. I yearned to start the march as did everyone else around 2pm. That's when it got a little scary. |  |
There was a point in time when the crowd started to get restless and you could feel the tension building up. We started to chant "Let us march" and drums were being hit making the crowd even more agitated. It was around 3pm or so when they finally announced that there were so many people that came to the march that the entire 2 mile strip was already filled with people. It ended up being more like an evacuation strategy rather than a march. It may have only taken us 30 minutes to get to the march, but it took us almost 2 hours to walk back. Protests, chants, demonstrations were all being displayed the whole way back to the hotel.
If there was anything that I could tell non believers about this experience it would be that this was a VERY peaceful march. We didn't leave the area a mess. We didn't destroy any property. We may have blocked traffic in some areas, but that's only because no one expected there to be over 1 million people at the Washing DC location. They were only expecting 250k marchers. The signs that were left were left as a protest. Personally I didn't leave my sign, but had I known about it I would have. The sign was to show trump that we are against his wall and that we could make a wall of signs at his doorstep to show how many of us were against his wall. If you look at the pictures in the media you won't see signs piled on top of signs in a trashy way, you'll see that each sign was strategically placed leaving room for other signs to fill in the wall. It had a purpose and in my opinion it was well done.
If there was anything that I could tell non believers about this experience it would be that this was a VERY peaceful march. We didn't leave the area a mess. We didn't destroy any property. We may have blocked traffic in some areas, but that's only because no one expected there to be over 1 million people at the Washing DC location. They were only expecting 250k marchers. The signs that were left were left as a protest. Personally I didn't leave my sign, but had I known about it I would have. The sign was to show trump that we are against his wall and that we could make a wall of signs at his doorstep to show how many of us were against his wall. If you look at the pictures in the media you won't see signs piled on top of signs in a trashy way, you'll see that each sign was strategically placed leaving room for other signs to fill in the wall. It had a purpose and in my opinion it was well done.
The march may be over, but the movement is not. We are not done voicing our concerns and I personally won't stop until I know that I won't have to fight for absolute equality anymore. No one should be judged by the color of their skin, their age, gender, sexual preference, or in which country they were raised in. Nor should they be judged by their religious choices. Who are you to judge. Who am I to judge. What does judgement do except teach others that someone has a power over another person?
I want to thank all the women that was in my group, I couldn't have afforded this opportunity without you. I also want to thank all the men and women that marched beside us on January 22nd, 2017. And for all the women that couldn't go but wanted to be there. I took a step for you and in my heart you were there.
I want to thank all the women that was in my group, I couldn't have afforded this opportunity without you. I also want to thank all the men and women that marched beside us on January 22nd, 2017. And for all the women that couldn't go but wanted to be there. I took a step for you and in my heart you were there.
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