Women’s March on Washington 2017

So I just got home from the Women’s March on Washington D.C. Wow! Let me just start by saying that the atmosphere in D.C. today was energetic, boisterous, busy, and squished, as compared to yesterday (Trump’s inauguration). I’m so proud of women around the world, the thousands who gathered as far away as Antarctica, and in cities as varied as London, Kolkata, and Buenos Aires, and even in Accra, Ghana, to speak out against sexism, racism, and really to advocate for basic human rights for all. In D.C., I met up with fellow Wellesley alumnae and the rest of the Seven Sisters. We were upbeat despite some clear frustrations and fear about our future.

I am happy to have been able to attend today’s historic march with a half million other demonstrators in D.C., mostly women, and in solidarity with over 600 sister march sites across the world. Ashley Judd was the bomb in her delivery of 19-year-old Nina Donavan’s poem and of her own words. “Our p—ies ain’t for grabbing. Our p—ies are for our pleasure and they are for birthing new generations… of nasty women.” Let’s just say, that we were fired up after that even though optics and sound were often poor, organization was poor, cell service was poor….

Today was a beautiful display of unity and solidarity in peace and goodwill. It is what America should be. Trump is entering the office of the presidency of the United States with record-low approval rates. If anything, he has inspired us to protest him. We showed up for the Women’s March with creative posters voicing our displeasure and with colourful chants. We showed up in our numbers, more than was expected. “Show me what democracy looks like!” And as I joined in the refrain of “This is what democracy looks like”, I wondered, really? Really? Americans, probably including some marching today,  should have gone to the polls and voted last November. Just saying!

I marched today simply because I demand respect as a woman. I marched to honour the female warriors who have paved the way for me to be able to have the liberties I hold today. I marched in support for our future warriors who will continue to champion our rights because “women’s rights are human rights”. I marched to publicly declare my disgust with the still sexist, misogynistic, patriarchy that envelopes us. I marched because it is my duty to acknowledge when others are being oppressed and to defend their dignity. I marched for hope and optimism. My hope now is that this is just the beginning of serious civic engagement by millions of citizens around the world. We are the government. As one of the chants goes, “We want a leader, not a creeper tweeter!”

Below I share a few of the clever, creative, and eye-catching posters from the Washington D.C. Women’s March.

“We won’t go away, welcome to your first day.” (“We won’t go away, welcome to the rest of your days.”)