January 9, 2020
Early in the morning on January 21, 2017, I stood on the corner of Independence Avenue and Maryland Avenue SW. Not far from the US Capitol building, shoulder to shoulder in a sea of other protestors, I waited for the Women’s March on Washington to begin. I saw people holding handmade signs that read “I will not go quietly back into the 1950s” and “Well-behaved women seldom make history.” Others were starting to chant refrains such as “This is what democracy looks like!” There with my mother, my oldest daughter, my sister-in-law, and my friends, I sensed the awakening of a community spanning generations and all walks of life.
Thus I begin Chapter 3 of Marching Toward Coverage, my forthcoming book that was inspired by the first Women’s March, and all of the other marches I’ve done since then. The first Women’s March was massive – it drew millions of people worldwide and turned out to be the largest single-day protest in American history. Many of those who marched had never participated in a protest march before (including my 80-year-old mother!). The energy, solidarity, and momentum that has been generated by this and other marches has sustained me through these past three years. My optimism for the future of our country is renewed when I am surrounded by thousands of people who believe in a more just society and who are willing to stand up for it.
Saturday, January 18th, 2020, marks the fourth Women’s March, and I will be there in Washington DC, with my family and friends. I want to encourage you all to march next Saturday, in whichever city is closest to you. The marches are fabulously intersectional, which means people will be there representing many causes. For me, women’s rights and health reform are still at the top of my agenda. But I’m there in spirit with climate change activists, immigrant’s rights reformers, and many, many more. I can’t wait to see all of the people and their creative signs – the signs are often humorous and always inspiring.
Here’s where you can get more info about the marches. If you’ve never marched before, don’t miss this opportunity! It’s never too late to become more active. And it sure beats sitting at home, watching the news in despair. If you’ve already marched, you know how energizing it is. Join us! You’re needed now more than ever. Let’s show the world who we are and what we can do!
