Ailantha
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact

Women's March On Washington/Ohio

1/15/2017

4 Comments

 
Picture
     On January 21 200,000 women and men are expected to come together in Washington, D.C. for The Women's March On Washington.  The purpose of the march is  to denounce  the presidency of Donald Trump and to stand up for human rights, in particular the rights of women.
      It is expected that more people will turn up for the Women's March than for Donald Trump's inauguration the day before.
       In advance of the Washington march and as an expression of support and solidarity with the the Ohioans who will travel to D.C to participate in the Women's March,  this past Sunday a Woman's March On Washington/Ohio was held in downtown Columbus.

    Participants   on the steps of the Ohio Statehouse.
Picture
     I'd been going back and forth in my head over whether I wanted to go to the Ohio march.  That is to say, I wanted to go, in theory, but, well, in reality it was a case of the spirit being willing but flesh not wanting to venture outside into the frigid January weather.  And I was a little nervous about trying to find a parking spot.  I was a little nervous in general - what if the opposition showed up?  (Spoiler alert: it did, but very mildly).
    But then I read about a 76-year-old woman who was traveling to D.C. for the march because she wanted to do her part so I thought, if that old sister can do it then this old sister can do it, too!
    
So I proceeded as I always do when I need to make myself do something I'm feeling a little weebly-wobbly about doing:  First, I told myself I was going to do it.  Second I went around telling other people I was going to do it,  which would mean that I couldn't then not do it without looking like a schmo; I find there's hardly any greater incentive to get something done than to avoid looking like a schmo.  Third, on the day of the march I bundled up,  stepped out of the house, walked to my car, one foot ahead of the other, got into my car and drove downtown.
     Once I arrived downtown and easily found myself a parking spot in the public garage under the Statehouse I was fine, fired up, and ready to go.
      After I parked I made my way up to the sidewalk in front of the Statehouse,

..where there wasn't much action yet,
Picture
Picture
...except for a few lone news people near the Statehouse,
...and the folks who were walking towards the Center Of Science And Industry, where the march was to start.
Picture
     So I followed, enjoying the walk and the scenery in spite of the chilly weather- thankfully not too chilly and not raining or snowing -  and  overcast sky,
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
...until I arrived at the gathering place.
Picture
Picture
Picture
     In the gathering area the marchers picked up placards on which they wrote their reason for marching,
Picture
...then pinned to their coats..
     Those who would be going on to the Washington march next Saturday wore their placards on the front of their coats,
Picture
Picture
...while the rest of us pinned them onto our backs.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
    Many of the marchers carried signs,
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
  ...and many wore pink knit hats with kitty-cat ears.
Picture
     At 1:30, the appointed time, the march began,
Picture
Picture
...and we walked together through the streets of downtown Columbus, over 2,000 strong.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
     We marched along to the rhythm of call-and-response cadences:
     "Stand up!"  "Fight back!"
     "Show me what democracy looks like!"  "This is what democracy looks like!"


      There were quite a few children marching.

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
We passed by one small cadre of opposition Right-To-Life protesters,
Picture
    But it didn't seem as if anyone on either side was much interested in a dust-up.
     There were a number of marchers carrying signs that read, "Rise".
Picture
     When I asked one of the sign-carriers what "Rise" meant she told me that it was the name of an organization that was formed for the purpose of providing transportation to rallies and protests.
     "So this means that there will be more rallies and protests?"  I asked her.
     "I think so," she replied with a smile.
     All right! thought I.
     After half an hour we arrived at the Statehouse,

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
...which we then encircled.
Picture
Picture
Picture
     Just before the march ended, those who were going to Washington on Saturday were asked to raise their hands and the rest of us were invited to find a marcher to pin our placard onto so that we in Columbus could be represented with them while they marched in Washington and be there with them in spirit.
     I found a sweet young lady named Kyra to pin my placard on,

Picture
Picture
...upon which I had written my reason for why I marched:
     Because I am among those who hold these truths to be self-evident:  that all people are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these rights are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.

References:
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/women-march-washington-outdraw-trump-inauguration-article-1.2945187?cid=bitly

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/local/wp/2016/11/14/womens-march-on-washington-planning-for-big-crowds-on-inauguration-weekend/?utm_term=.2fc5fcb521e2

4 Comments
Claire
1/17/2017 09:22:35 am

Thank you for sharing Mom! This is great inspiration! I am going to the Womens March in Chicago this weekend. As Hamilton would say (at least in his Broadway show), Rise Up!

Reply
Patti
1/17/2017 10:16:01 am

I'm so proud of you, too, Honey! Rise up we will!

Reply
Chris Sprague
1/17/2017 07:24:26 pm

Bravo , Patti !

Reply
Patti
1/17/2017 07:52:26 pm

Thanks, Chris!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    "Tropical Depression" 
    by Patti Liszkay
    ​Buy it on Amazon:

    https://www.amzn.com/1685131832

    Picture
    "Hail Mary"
    by Patti Liszkay
    Buy it on Amazon:

    https://www.amzn.com/1684334888

    Picture
    "Equal And Opposite Reactions"
     by Patti Liszkay
    Buy it on Amazon:

    http://amzn.to/2xvcgRa
    or from
    The Book Loft
    of German Village,
    Columbus, Ohio
    Picture
    Or check it out at the Columbus Metropolitan Library
    Picture

    Archives

    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013

    RSS Feed

    I am a traveler just visiting this planet and reporting various and sundry observations,
    hopefully of interest to my fellow travelers.

    Categories

    All


























































































Proudly powered by Weebly