WE DID IT!!
Over 1 Million of us... NOT including the sister marches around THE WORLD! Holy LORD!!
Saturday was EXACTLY what I needed! When I started my post the other day, what I was lacking was HOPE. Hope in humanity, hope for the future of our country. Like I said in that post, I was scared. I was still shaken and preparing to fall deeper into a pit of darkness. I woke up Friday morning and (unwillingly) watched the Inauguration. I watched Barack and Michelle get on that helicopter and I SOBBED. I sobbed until I thought I was going to vomit as the reality of our situation settled over me. I cried until I was empty and then I filled that numb space with FIRE!
SO... Around 8:30 that night, Claire picked me up and we started the trip down to DC to meet up With Emily and Matty who were already there. We spent a lot of time in traffic but the amount of cars driving down was IMPRESSIVE!
(here's a random picture of us from our high school days)
Waking up in DC was weird. Going down to breakfast was even weirder and quite uncomfortable. The first things I noticed when we walked into the dining area were the MAGA hats and that majority of this small room were trump supporters. I went about my business... fueling up by piling the microwave bacon and cheesy eggs onto my plate... preparing my coffee that was accidentally half decaf and pretending that I couldn't feel the tension in the room. Pretending that I couldn't see the sideways glances directed towards the group of weirdos , or is the term "snowflakes" in the corner. I mean we had Feminist Thor for crying out loud! I think my mom would be proud of the manners I demonstrated. I was able to breathe a bit easier when an older woman approached our table and asked if she could take our picture and then thanked us for marching. I was starting to wake up and get hyped up. That excitement only intensified when we started getting close and had to get out of our Lyft on the side of the highway to get over to the street because there was no other way to get to the rally!
The rally was already under way when we finally got there. I will be the first to say that it went on a bit too long but I understand that part of that was to do with the fact that the organizers had to accommodate the crowd that turned up! There was such a buzz in the air. The unity and solidarity was so strong that it was almost palpable! Just standing in that crowd... in that SEA of BEAUTIFUL people had me fighting back tears! (not to mention listening to Gloria and Angela... holy crap!) I knew what we were doing was right simply because of the fact that at NO POINT was I anxious or panicky. Even in the middle of that many people. We were ONE people! WE were America!!! Regardless of gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, age. Those people gathered on Independence Avenue....ARE WHAT MAKE AMERICA GREAT. You could feel the love, and acceptance in the air. You could feel the DETERMINATION! We were a sea of voices creating ONE voice that will NOT be silenced!!
Then we finally started to move like an army on a mission. A mission of equality for ALL! For me the most powerful moment was the sea of signs marching past the Washington Memorial. All of the landmarks commemorating the "freedom" of this country. I was personally a little overwhelmed by the historical significance of the moment and the fact that I was literally walking in the footsteps of the generation before. The leaders and game changers that came before me. Above that, some of the people marching at that very moment were living this for a second time...They weren't standing on their first Civil Rights crossroad! WOW. That fact is both inspiring and depressing if I'm honest.
(I was LIVING for the amount of Hamilton signs)
Reaching the White House felt like a VICTORY! Everyone was riding this high of having made history! The chants and cheers were like a war cry... the most joyful war cry there is lol.
It was a celebration . trump most likely wan't even in the White House but wherever he was, HE HEARD US! It's honestly incredible how in a span of 24 hours I could go from feeling so low and defeated to feeling like we won. Even if it's just a little. We were heard!
Like I said earlier, this was exactly what I needed. My faith in humanity has been restored. THAT was my country that I marched with! I felt so empowered, safe and unified! I have NEVER been so proud to have been a part of something IN MY LIFE! One day I will tell my children about this chapter in history... I hope they're proud too! I am a PROUD, FIRED UP, NASTY WOMAN!
"To those of us that marched... to smashing the patriarchy... TO CARRIE FISHER!"
So you may be thinking "What now?" Because this march certainly isn't the end of it. It was only the beginning! Now is the time that we rally together with our friends, family, and community and make sure that we are heard. Now is the time to be as loud as possible. In every way possible. This extends past a march.
The next step is what WomensMarch.com is calling "10 actions for the first 100 days" Every 10 days for the first 100 days of this new administration, we will be taking action. So even if you didn't march, you can still make your voice heard. Action 1. is sending postcards to our state senators about the specific issues weighing on our heart. The issues we will continue to fight for.
Also do your research. There are plenty of organizations that need your support. Organizations working to help and defend the people currently under attack in this country. Here are just a few.
- Planned Parenthood: https://www.istandwithpp.org
- ACLU: https://www.aclu.org
- NAACP: http://www.naacp.org
- CAIR: https://www.cair.com
- Stand With Standing Rock: http://standwithstandingrock.net/donate/
After a campaign and election (and now what looks like an entire presidency) built on and fueled by hate we must remain a light! We must remain unified. We must stay FIRED UP and committed! WE are the PEOPLE and we can't let him divide us! THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE!
This is not a moment, IT'S THE MOVEMENT!
XOXO
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