DC hosts third annual Women's March

The 2019 Women’s March took place on Saturday, Jan. 19. The first Women’s March occurred  on Jan. 21, 2017, the day after President Donald Trump’s inauguration. It was the largest single-day protest in US history, and it sent a fearless and important message of equality to the administration on the first day in office, and also to the world, that women are taking a stand.

According to the Women’s March’s website, their mission is to “identify urgent policy priorities under the areas of ending violence against women, ending state violence, reproductive rights and justice, racial justice, LGBTQ+ rights, immigrant rights, economic justice and workers’ rights, civil rights, disability rights, environmental justice.” Thousands of people have marched because of the oppression they have experienced not only within this administration, but through their everyday lives.

This year, there were marches in DC, California, Illinois, New York, Philadelphia, and hundreds of different cities. The leaders and organizing committee includes Abby Stein, a Jewish writer, educator, and activist; Aimee Allison, founder of She the People; Ana María Archila, Colombian immigrant and co-executive director of the Center for Popular Democracy; and many more amazing women. Communities were able to come together to protest their struggles and take pride in their diversity.

Even in the face of snow predictions, thousands of women came to DC to rally and protest. The march was attended by adults, students, and children alike, centered at Freedom Plaza, where marchers gathered around the stage to listen to speakers. This year’s speakers included America Ferrera, actress and chair of the Women’s March on Washington; Ashley Judd, humanitarian, PhD student, and actor; Scarlett Johansson, actress and activist; and other extraordinary activists, as well as a moving performance of Rise Up by Andra Day.

SJC students also attended the march. Lila McKenney ’21 said she enjoyed “being able to feel in solidarity with other women who believe what you believe. And I also enjoyed seeing all the signs and seeing that even though this is a really serious situation,people like to make light of it and have fun with protesting, because it’s almost comical how bad our government is.” Claire Gearan ’20 said it was “cool to meet different people from different states that came to Washington to support women united.”