An estimated 250,000 protesters marched at the Chicago Women’s March, Jan. 21. (Photo/Sebastián Hidalgo)
By Lily Martinez
Opinion Writer
The election results offended and hurt people of vastly different backgrounds. There have been an outbreak of protests for the past two months. It was of no surprise to me when I heard about the Women’s March. Trump has become world renowned for many wicked and vile things, but he is most infamously noted by his “Grab them by the pussy” quote.
It’s clear he doesn’t have respect for humanity but to be so outwardly offensive to an entire gender caused the USA’s largest one-day protest. A quarter million people came out to stand in solidarity with women in Chicago, while half a million made it to D.C.
A few days prior to the march I asked a student on the escalator, Marche Stollenwerck, if she would be attending. Stollenwerck wasn’t sure, but said, “as a woman you need your opinion heard, especially with the inauguration of Trump. What he is trying to do with abortion rights and medicare is just wrong. It is especially important for single mothers.”
Even professor Riedel said “Saturday should be very interesting, even historic!”
I attended the women’s march and it was almost as backward as how trump bashes immigrants while also being married to one.
Chloe Stratton, a local activist, told me, “I will give you a breakdown of how fucking cis-sexist the pussy march was, because it certainly was not a women’s march. If it were, they would include all trans women.”
I understand white women are the majority but was there a reason none of the chants focused on the complex and diverse issues women face of different backgrounds?
HWC student Chelsea Bonner tells me, “it should have been called rally or get together. The women’s march was more of a celebration. There was a lot of collaboration with the police, so that also made it not feel like a protest.”
Chelsea told me that at one point her grandmother told her to go thank the cop, and she said no. “The police are a part of the system, the problem.”
As an activist, I found it imperative to attend. Even amongst the activist community I have felt that a man’s voice tends to be more respected. To be honest I was uncomfortable that day. I was at the front for almost two hours and I never heard a BLM chant, or a chant for the lowest earning demographic of women: hispanics.
Women’s rights do matter, and the march was a positive act. There should have been a more somber or more humble approach to it. The pink pussy hats were a bit to upbeat, like a cliché fashion trend. The battles some women face are truly devastating. As an entirety having to fight for our reproductive rights is chilling. I walked with a Mexican Flag in one hand and a raised fist. I truly stand with the marginalized.
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lmartinezhwc@gmail.com