The women’s marches, took place the day after the presidential inauguration. They occurred not only in the US, but throughout the world. There were a total of 673 women's marches worldwide with a total of 4,956,422 marchers. The official rally, and the one most heard about, was the Women’s March on Washington. I attended this rally in D.C. and was astounded by the amount of women and men who came to make their voices heard. People of all ages and races came through the streets, wearing homemade knitted pink hats shaped with cat ears on top. The purpose of these hats was to “make a unique collective visual statement which will help activists be better heard.”
There I met a woman named Barbara Res who held a sign that said “I am the woman who built Trump tower.” Res worked as an executive for President Trump for 18 years and supervised construction of Trump tower in NYC. She explained how her experience working for him was well but that he changed over the years. She believes that the money and fame had gone to his head. Res said, “He wants America to do well only because it will reflect on him.” She feels that, “he has neither the temperament or experience to be president…” I found it interesting to see a woman, who worked closely with Trump for years, remark that she’s seen such a major change in him; a change big enough for her to speak up and march along with all these people, despite working with him for so many years.
The motives of these millions who came to march were to express their support for women’s rights and their opposition to Donald Trump’s presidency. In my experience, it was not merely a march for the rights of women (which, as of now, they possess). It was, instead, a fire back at the disdainful rhetoric spewed from President Trump’s campaign. Marchers chanted, “We will not go away, welcome to your first day!” as they made their way through the streets of Washington. Many shameful remarks were made throughout the duration of the campaign, among other things Trump has been caught saying. These were remarks not only against women but against immigrants and people with disabilities. It is also known this new administration are not supporters of the LGBT community. Therefore, this march was a symbol of unity, a reminder that even if people attempt to pull us apart, we can persevere and work together. It was a message to this administration that we will stand for our reproductive rights as women, and stand for equality for all people, no matter what race, religion, or sexual orientation. It was a message to President Trump that we are not a country of hate and division but of peace and harmony.
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