This Saturday, January 21, thousands of people are planning to participate in the Women's March on Washington. People are fired up and ready to make their voices heard in what organizers hope is the first step in a unified front against "the rhetoric of the past election cycle". The organizers further explained that this rhetoric "insulted, demonized, and threatened many of us - immigrants of all statuses, Muslims, and those of diverse religious faiths, people who identify as LGBTQIA, Native people, Black and Brown people, people with disabilities, survivors of sexual assault - and our communities are hurting and scared. We are confronted with the question of how to move forward in the face of national and international concern and fear."
These compelling reasons helped my family decide to take part in the Women’s March on New York City also on Saturday, January 21. To be honest, I wasn’t sure about joining the March. At first, it seemed disorganized, and there were rumors it wouldn’t happen. Then, it seemed the voices of women of color were being stifled. But, thankfully, the March found its way. I was reassured when the people behind the March released Unity Principles, focusing on issues such as reproductive rights, LGBTQIA rights, and civil rights. The March now has 616 sister marches throughout the world in places such as New Zealand, Iceland, Peru, and even Antartica. There are now more than one million people planning to march worldwide.
Many people who are marching are sharing their reasons for marching, using the hashtags #WhyIMarch and #IMarchFor. Here are my reasons.
I march because I believe in the reproductive rights of women.
I march because I care about the environment.
I march because I am a feminist.
I march to inspire my daughter to be an activist.
I march with my wife.
I march because my mother taught me why to march.
I march for my best friend and her newborn daughter.
I march because I have always believed in equality.
I march because I want to be surrounded by thousands of like-minded individuals. Seriously, I need that.
I march because I believe this could be the beginning of a meaningful movement.
So, I will be there this Saturday ready to march and stand with the women in my life. Maybe I'll see you there.
It's not too late to register - Head here to find a march near you!