Marching in Solidarity

2017 was a year marked by division, unrest, and anger. A year that started with Trump’s inauguration, followed by the largest protest in history. And a year that ended with Trump’s first anniversary as president, followed by the same protest. This past year was certainly a long one. It was the year of many “firsts,” both good and bad—from having the first non-politician become president, to having the first women’s march, a lot has changed in the dynamics of society and politics. Yet, this year, framed by the two women’s marches, allows us to realize that the voices and sentiments of many groups remain unchanged and emboldened.

“What does democracy look like?” “This is what democracy looks like,” I shouted back, my voice harmonious with the thousands of other women, men, children, and individuals representing all walks of life. Without a doubt, we captured the essence of democracy. This day was January 21, 2018, the second annual Women’s March, where the skies were blue, and the sun was shining, and the people were peacefully angry. The Women’s March was the reaction to Trump’s presidency and the issues that defined it. From issues such as climate change, to which Trump infamously denies that there is even a possibility of it existing, to the #MeToo movement, in which many female and male celebrities have spoken out about being victims of sexual abuse, perpetrated by their colleagues, hundreds of thousands clogged up the many streets of the country in order to have their views on those issues be heard.

For the second annual women’s march, the organizers had the specific goal of promoting voter registration, titling the march “Power to the Polls”. Coming up in November 2018 are the midterm elections, in which all 435 seats of the House of Representatives, 100 seats in the Senate, and 39 governorships are up for re-election. In a time when all three of the government branches are under Republican control, and there is a great imbalance of representation of various groups, and thus midterm elections are crucial in diversifying this partisan power. The march was primarily focused in Las Vegas, Nevada, a swing state that had been hit with the worst mass shooting in history and had a politician accused of sexual assault. Thus, Nevada is a crucial state that could potentially become democratic in the upcoming election, due to these events. Not only targeting Nevada, the march wanted to raise awareness for the election and strengthen the electoral power for politicians who share the same values as the marchers.

Despite being largely political and affiliated with the Democratic party, the Women’s March was also a symbol of modern feminism. For much of history, feminism was exclusive to white, wealthy, educated females, but with each passing year, there is a stronger pull for feminism to be more inclusive. The premise of feminism is equality amongst all, which was reflected in a greater capacity at this year’s march. There was more of a pull for the inclusion of the transgender community, not just focusing on biologically-female women, but also for more inclusion of women of color. All walks of life, from toddlers to grandparents to teenagers, participated in the march, contributing to the country’s growing diversity. Many people came with their respective organizations, such as the Public Employees Federation of New York City and the Dreamers, who are immigrants supported through Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.

The march even had an air of humor to it, with the continued shared disbelief that someone like Trump is actually our president. Each person held up a handmade sign that carried puns, images, or slogans on it that addressed Trump and some of his issues. Alluding to Trump’s unfiltered tweets and his lack of real leadership, as well as the regression of his policies, slogans such as, “We want a leader not a creepy tweeter,” and “Ugh, where do I even start” covered large poster signs. There was even a section of the march in which marchers could throw tide pods into the mouths of cardboard Trump and Pence. Expressing anger and distaste in a humorous way allowed the Trump administration to be ridiculed, but in a peaceful, passive-aggressive manner.

With millions across the world coming together with similar goals in mind, despite our differences, the Women’s March showcases hope and the possibility for a more united future. Our relentless attitude that retaliates against bigotry and hatred reveals that the right will always overcome the wrong: Love trumps hate.