I’ve been lax about blogging lately for a multitude of
reasons: David went back to the boat
to get some jobs done that I can’t be around for (glue and varnish fumes make
me sick). I’ve been busy sorting through our things stored here in Kansas in preparation of our next adventure, deciding
what to keep and what to get rid of. And politics has completely consumed me,
as it has millions of other Americans, in what clearly is a new chapter in our
country’s history.
It
started three weeks ago when I boarded a bus bound for Washington D.C. to take part in the Women’s March on Washington with 52 other marchers from my hometown of Wichita, Kansas. If you’re not familiar with the geography of the United States, Wichita is smack dab in the middle. It’s the heartland.
The Bible belt. And just about as conservative as they come.
I
wouldn’t say we were a very diverse group of people and it’d be reasonable to assume
that most of us grew up in a similar way. But we all had different reasons for
marching, as did the millions of others who took to the streets that day: Women’s
rights. Civil rights. LGBTQ rights. Native rights. Environmental rights.
Religious rights. Criminal justice reform. Immigration reform. Defense of the
Affordable Healthcare Act (Obamacare). Driving home the point that feminism
today is intersectional.
I’m
still trying to process the experience and can’t begin to explain how it felt
to be there, surrounded by an ocean of humanity dressed in pink chanting “this
is what democracy looks like” and singing “We Shall Overcome”. It was
overwhelming. And truly one of the most important moments of my life. I’m
reluctant to use the word “celebration” to describe an event with such serious
concerns and goals, but it truly was a celebration of love for our fellow
(wo)man and the world we inhabit.
The
day wasn’t without its difficulties. The crowd was so large that it was
impossible to get anywhere near the stage to hear the speakers . . . or out. Marchers
had filled the entire route and there was a short period of time when we heard
the event had been cancelled due to the hundreds of thousands of people that
had showed up. While we waited to learn our fate, news of sister marches around
the world dribbled in and energized the crowd even more: Larger than expected
turnouts in Boston, Chicago, Seattle, Los Angeles, London, Paris, Antarctica. We were making history.
Soon
a chant from the stage area reached us, declaring it was time: “march on third,
march on third”. We slowly made our way north along 3rd Street to Constitution, ending up on Pennsylvania Avenue. Meanwhile, thousands of other marchers filled the
surrounding streets, converging at major intersections as we all made our way
to the White House.
Pennsylvania Avenue was lined with bleachers that had been set up for
the Inaugural Parade. For Trump, they were nearly empty. But on Saturday,
supporters of the Women’s March on Washington all but filled the stands and cheered everybody
on. Hands were raised high in the air in a sign of power as the crowd roared. A
call from the stands demanded “tell me what democracy looks like” and we
responded as loudly as we could with “this is what democracy looks like”,
sending goosebumps throughout my body. Just thinking about it does the same. It
was an amazing, amazing day.
The
days following the march have been a blur of activity. The man who moved into
the Oval Office has made sure of this. And the protests continue – at airports,
at the homes and offices of Congressmen, at the Super Bowl, at Trump’s
properties. Those who aren’t able to show up in person, like me, have been
jamming the phone lines to their representative in Congress to voice their
concerns and to say no to Trump’s agenda. I’m sure the same would be said about
the White House phones if that line was still open to the public, but it’s not
– one of the many ways this administration has worked to silence its
opposition. The good news is it isn’t working.
Clearly
this is just the beginning and I’m sure many of the battles that are fought
will be lost. Some already have been. Betsy DeVos, someone who proved herself
to be wholly unqualified for the position of Secretary of Education now holds
the cabinet position. Jeff Sessions, a man with a long record of civil rights
abuses, is now the Attorney General. And the Dakota Access pipeline has
restarted construction. But, win or lose, they’re battles worth fighting and
history will judge those of us who stood up kindly because we’re on the right
side of it, of this fact I’m sure.
What word sums up your week? Join the conversation below
in the comments section or on our Facebook page. We’d love to hear from you.
9 comments
What a wonderfully inspiring post. I can barely stand to look at the news these days because it's so depressing. Reading your post this morning gives me some hope that maybe things can change.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ellen. I know what you mean. Being land-based hasn't been good for my overall mental health because I can't seem to keep my eyes off the news. But I do believe the will of the majority of people in this country will win out in the end . . . it has to.
DeleteI'm so immensely thrilled that you and others marched and had a better turn out that the events of the day before. I love all the signs - especially "you tried to bury us...". For me, the worst part has been the long term friendships that have pretty reached an impasse over politics. Thanks to people like you though, hope is not lost!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your experience. I can feel the goosebumps along with you and I want to read every banner in your photos. I'm just so impressed by how many chose to march, all over the world. It is certainly an interesting time, if nothing else. #wotw
ReplyDeleteSo very inspiring, I'm not sure I'd be able to settle after an experience like this and with the ongoing politics you're dealing with at the moment. You are so right, it is history in the making, and you know you're on the right side of it. Thanks for sharing with #WotW
ReplyDeleteVery inspiring and hopeful post. Key will be keeping momentum and not getting burned out with the constant barrage of 'shock and awe'. I plan to continue to march until we leave. Then remain as active online asnour travels allow. Meanwhile I am considering a 'just say no to the cheeto' tshirt for our check in to other countries.
ReplyDeleteOh wow! This is so inspiring....There was even a march in the biggest town near me but nothing on the scale of what you attended. History is being made. x
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful post, Stephanie! I felt like I was with you in Washington and I am so proud (for lack of coming up with a better word that means more than this one) of you for joining the march. "Problem" is that, because of your involvement, you will be even more submerged in the news and what is going on. I agree, being land-based has sucked us into following politics more as well and I can't wait to win more battles and actually feel happy again at the end of each day! Your inspirational post definitely helps. :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic post and it's so good to hear, first hand, from someone who is on the ground and positively doing something. Watching from the other side of the Atlantic pond it's fascinating to see just how divided the country is. This really is history in the making and I applaud you and everyone who is standing up for what you believe it. It must've been so inspirational to be part of this march.
ReplyDeletexx
#WoTW