The Meaning of the Women’s March

During this past year, so much change has taken place in our country. Specifically, the election of Donald Trump as our new President has sent this country into a total tailspin. Since November 9, 2016, protests have taken place across the world and our country protesting the election of Trump, as well his policies and campaign rhetoric. They have taken place from coast to coast in the United States, with students and activists organizing large protests in New York, Boston, Chicago, Portland, and Oakland. People protested Trump with signs and chants, including “Not My President,” and “Love Trumps Hate.” The roots of the protest stemmed from peoples’ intense hatred for Donald Trump. Though it was necessary for people to express their views, the protest in general was targeting one person, and it was very negative and tense for everyone involved. It stirred up a lot of controversy and division within the country.

On January 21, a historic event took place. Over five million people worldwide, and about one million people in Washington DC, participated in the Women’s’ March. Primarily, the purpose of the march was to defend the rights of women, as well as to “send a bold message to our new administration on their first day in office, and to the world that women’s rights are human rights,” according to the event’s official website. Besides advocating for women’s rights, the purpose of this march was to represent all people whose rights were being threatened, or people whose voices weren’t being heard. This protest, unlike most protests in American history, was very peaceful, with zero arrests. For some perspective, the Inauguration Day protests of this year had over 200 arrests. This shows how the purpose of this march was to peacefully support the rights of people not fairly represented in a respectful manner; the purpose was to not bring anyone down, it was only to support people.

I got the chance to talk to Ms. Meyer, an English and History teacher at Grace Middle School. Ms. Meyer has seen a lot of history and political change in her lifetime. She first started protesting in chicago in the late 60’s. Ms. Meyer attended the Women’s March on Washington, I got the privilege to interview her about her experience.

Why did you feel going to the March was important?

“I like to show up in times of change, and see what’s going on, I like to see who shows up, I like to know if young people are interested or if it’s just cranky old timers like me. I like to see how rallies are compared to the 60’s, and I was amazed at the difference.”

Was this your first time protesting?

“I was mostly in Chicago before. It was nicer in Washington, Chicago was pretty nasty. You could pretty much count on getting harassed. “

How would you describe the March on Washington in 2017?

“There were a lot of kids there, there were a lot of young people your age there. A lot of people with kids- I was amazed- no one was getting arrested, no one was getting hassled. There was some vulgar language and some vulgar signs, but nothing we can’t deal with. There were lots of different factions represented- pretty much everything from climate change to sex change. You name it, it was all kind of there.”

Especially right now after the election, how important do you think this march was?

“It is important enough to get how many tons of people out and really interested in making their voices heard.”

What was the meaning of the march to you? Was there anything you went to protest?

“To be a woman now, there is just so much promise, and I don’t want to see that stepped on, while in the 60’s and 70’s, things really just felt hopeless for women. I don’t like to see young women pushed around. I push my female students around sometimes. Girls especially who have this tiny little voice, i do this thing where I pretend i can’t hear them, and maybe it’s rly mean, but c’mon. Speak up. You have to make yourself heard. They need to know that what they think is just as valuable as what anybody else thinks, and so they don’t, in the classroom in particular, they don’t let anyone talk over them, including me. If when somebody else starts talking, they stop talking. That’s a pretty bad strategy for being heard. “

For you, it’s less about women being heard, but more like everyone needs to be heard?

“Yes; young and old, female or male; it doesn’t matter who you are. People should listen to you. That should be the norm, not the exception.  I think this march was very much about keeping your voice strong and even-keeled, being the best person you can. If you need to resist, you do with love in your heart. People came to the march with mostly good feelings, and they left with even better feelings. “

After talking to Ms. Meyer, it was easy to see how empowering the women’s march was. Like Ms. Meyer said, it is essential for all people to have their voices heard. However, not only did people have their voices heard, but they were able to support their cause in a peaceful way, in a way that empowered women all over the country.