AAUW Sacramento Members Represent!

The weather was predicted to be rainy and overcast, but there was no rain nor overcast skies to dampen the joy and enthusiasm of the thousands of women and their families and friends marching from Southside Park to the west steps of the State Capitol on Jan. 21.

I didn’t know what to expect, but from the time we began at the light rail station when two women gave us free tickets because they had accidentally bought extra ones, to the fellow riders crammed into all the rail cars, there was a spirit of fun and optimism.  There were people of all sizes, shapes, ages, gender and ethnic background joining together for the simple act of voicing their opinions.  We met adolescent girls from Grass Valley whose aunt had knitted them their pink kitten hats to energetic seniors who had not marched before.

Despite the fact that there were thousands of people gathering in the park, I never heard a cross word heard about anything the whole day.  When strollers or wheelchairs needed to be moved through the crowd, everyone politely stepped out of the way and provided a pathway for people to get to another area to meet friends.  Along the route to the Capitol, there were people with signs standing on the sidewalks to offer their support.  Chants and roars started with one person or group and spread up the street in a mood that spoke of unity.  We even had a juggling couple who provided entertainment along the way.

There were too many signs to capture all the clever thoughts, sayings and opinions, but for the most part, they were focused on the positive.  They touched on every topic from belief in America’s kindness and generosity to issues of reproductive rights and human rights.  Some that remain with me include:  “Love Trumps Hate”, “Make America Kind Again” and “Long Live Ruth Bader Ginsberg.”  There were women who proudly called themselves “Nasty Women,” along with groups who identified with the LGBT community and Latinas with signs in Spanish.

Following comments from a number of elected officials, it was the voice of a child that sticks with me.  An 11-year old girl named Kennedy received recognition from the national Women’s March committee as one of the youth honorees.  Hearing this little girl put into the simplest of terms what the march was about was touching and inspiring.  She said that from the time she was a little girl, her parents and teachers taught her to be kind to others and not say mean things to hurt other people’s feelings.  It upset her to hear the things being said in the presidential election.  She said she was determined to be the change that she wished to see in the future.

I came away from the march with a positive feeling about people not wanting to be complacent about the issues that affect the health and well-being of all people.  This march was just the first step in continuing to voice the view that we hold values that are worth fighting to preserve.