A Woman's Place is in the Resistance

[ny biker]

The size of the crowd could be the basis for a whole other discussion -- the logistics involved in planning were crazy. From taking part in other large events on the Mall, I knew that Metro (the subway system in DC) would be packed and I did not want anything to do with that. I had originally planned to meet up with one friend who was coming in from the suburbs with her family. After some back and forth we decided to just try to meet up at the march rather than trying to coordinate meeting at a suburban Metro station where there may or may not have been parking. (As it turned out, it was far too crowded for us to get together.) Ultimately I met up with some friends who live closer to me, and we walked 1.5 miles into DC (Georgetown) with a plan to take a bus from there. But the buses were all full, so we ended up taking a cab part way and walking the rest of the way. To get back, we walked 2.5 mile to my friend's house. It was a long day on our feet with no chance to sit down.

Then there was the logistics of food and drink. There were just a handful of food vendors (food trucks) in the area. For security reasons we were limited to small purses and small see-through backpacks. I ordered a see-through drawstring bag from nfl.com so I would have something that I could fill with snack bars and a water bottle. Clif Bars and Builder Bars FTW. On the plus side, being limited to one water bottle meant my friends and I did not need to stand on the long portapotty lines.

One thing I didn't realize until after I got home was that the official march route had to be changed mid-day due to the crowd size. The plan was a rally from 10-1 and then the march at 1:00. However the speakers at the rally went long (it was after 2:00 when Madonna spoke). After a while a bunch of us decided to just start marching, so we started walking through the crowd on the street where it began, encouraging people to come with us. (There were periodic chants of "march! march!" at this point). Eventually we hit a wall of people that was just not moving -- apparently this was because other people who were closer to the stage had started marching on the new official route, and when two groups came together it slowed to less than a crawl. At that point we were near the Washington Monument, and we decided we were close enough to the official endpoint at the Ellipse (near the White House) and that we had more than accomplished our goal for the day. And my friend's back hurt from all the standing and walking. So at that point we headed home.

Throughout the entire day, wherever we were, we saw many people carrying signs and wearing pink hats -- on the way to the march and afterwards when we stopped at a restaurant to eat. It really was amazing.

Other friends had similar experiences, changing their plans frequently in the days before the march and while it was happening. You really had to be flexible and prepared for anything. And physically, it was not an easy day. I totally understand why many people would not be up for it.

But, I think the important thing is what happens next. We need to carry the momentum forward.

(Also, there's talk of a Science March and a march to demand that Trump release his income tax returns. I may end up at them -- now that I have that clear drawstring bag I might as well use it. )

[north woods gal]

No marches in our little community, way up here in the woods, but my heart was with everyone who did march. I'm another one who gets anxious and upset when trapped in big crowds, anyway. Sends my blood pressure and stress levels through the roof.

I'm doing what I can, though, to speak when and where I can on behalf of all the many human rights for all peoples that are being stomped on. Never thought I would live to see the day when this country turned so vicious and hateful. Yes, it can be so very depressing, but it's also so very necessary in times like these to take a stand. Have been especially concerned with some of our Muslim and transgendered friends, of late. So very sad to see them living in fear in their own homes and communities. Dark times for us all.

[emily_in_nc]

No marches in our little community, way up here in the woods, but my heart was with everyone who did march. I'm another one who gets anxious and upset when trapped in big crowds, anyway. Sends my blood pressure and stress levels through the roof.

I'm doing what I can, though, to speak when and where I can on behalf of all the many human rights for all peoples that are being stomped on. Never thought I would live to see the day when this country turned so vicious and hateful. Yes, it can be so very depressing, but it's also so very necessary in times like these to take a stand. Have been especially concerned with some of our Muslim and transgendered friends, of late. So very sad to see them living in fear in their own homes and communities. Dark times for us all.

Ditto ditto ditto!

[ny biker]

Every day is a new outrage, another roller coaster of emotion and feeling physically ill over the way a few hateful extremists have taken over this country.

[salsabike]

every day is a new outrage, another roller coaster of emotion and feeling physically ill over the way a few hateful extremists have taken over this country.

couldn't agree more.

[north woods gal]

This is all so very dangerous. When the man at the top does hate-based things, it's interpreted by those who share his hatred to act when they might otherwise think twice or show some restraint and the more Trump rages, the more they love him. What country is this?

[smilingcat]

I've been feeling really down, tired and just lethargic from the politics. Forced myself to attend a local progressive group meeting yesterday. What can we do? They ask. There is so much hatred, there is no dialogue with the red hat (trumpster idiots). Starting a conversation with things like "We want to improve the quality of life for everyone!" from my perspective this just don't fly with the red hat crowd. It needs to be more personal. "We need to get out of this rat hole of credit card debt and insane health insurance. You want to be free of stress and me too" kind of thing. This may get them to start talking. It's about you its about me and forget the rest of the idiots (progressive).

One city council man said that there is a concerted effort by the right wing extremist to take over the political landsacape. He said he hasn't seen so much effort on any group to take over the school board as he has seen with the right wing extremists. Because of his position, he didn't want to elaborate on where the dark money was flowing from. Well that is where you start, at school board and at a local level.

One gal said she was planning on running for city council of a small town instead of running for school board. And that is what we need to do. Start a group, start a grass root organization to get yourself or someone you know onto the school board, city council etc. Even a citizen advisory board. I'm a precinct committee person. Have been guilty of knocking on people's door to help progressive people elected. It's about your wife, its about your daughter not being molested or accosted.