Women's March On Washington/Ohio

     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.

     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,

​...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.

     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,

...until I arrived at the gathering place.

     In the gathering area the marchers picked up placards on which they wrote their reason for marching, 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,

​...while the rest of us pinned them onto our backs.

    Many of the marchers carried signs,

  ...and many wore pink knit hats with kitty-cat ears.

     At 1:30, the appointed time, the march began,

...and we walked together through the streets of downtown Columbus, over 2,000 strong.

     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.

We passed by one small cadre of opposition Right-To-Life protesters,

     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".

     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,

...which we then encircled.

     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,

...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