I Marched for Everyone
January 21, 2017 is a day I will remember for the rest of my life. It was a day filled -- no, filled is too weak a word; overflowing, yes that's the word, overflowing -- with love and kindness and unity. Never before had I been in a crowd that large, standing shoulder to shoulder, only able to shuffle here and there, with nowhere to sit down, or no food or drink easily available. It would have been easy and understandable for people to get cranky, but there was zero crankiness. Instead, people graciously moved aside and smiled when a family with a small child needed to make their way back to the port-a-potties; people helped clear the way to make sure friends and families didn't get separated from their group; people struck up conversations with those around them when they were too far away to see or hear anything on stage; people laughed and danced; and people showed nothing but love to everyone around them. For anyone to say that yesterday was anything other than a peaceful protest is just wrong.
Now that i've shared my experience at the march, let me share why I marched.
Initially I marched because I wanted to let President Trump know that it is not acceptable to say things like "Grab 'em by the pussy. You can do anything." and chalk it up to locker room talk. Sexual assault is NEVER ok no matter how rich or famous you are.
The more I thought about it though, the more I realized I had sat in the middle of the road just letting things happen and not expressing my opinions for far too long. I was afraid of voicing my beliefs and opinions because I didn't want to cause confrontation, but there is no room to be afraid anymore. So I put my fears aside and marched to express those beliefs. So, here is what I believe in and why I marched.
I marched because I believe in equality. I believe that men and women should have the same opportunities in the workplace and be paid equally for equal work. I believe all women should have access to affordable birth control, affordable and safe abortions (and trusting women to make the right decision for themselves), and affordable reproductive healthcare. I believe in loving, accepting, and respecting people of all races, religions, sexual orientations, gender identities, nationalities: ALL people. I believe in helping other nations, rather than pushing them away. I believe in expressing concerns and opinions, because this is a democracy and this is what a democracy looks like.
I will no longer sit on the sidelines and just let things happen;
I will fight and work for a United States that is loving and accepting of all people, a country that loves thy neighbor without exception, and a country that gives all its people an equal playing field. The current administration seems to want to take those things away and I won't let that happen.
