On Sunday, across the world, people were observing International Women’s Day with protests and marches to bring light to issues facing women. But this year, in San Francisco, the concerns were for the nation in general, as the Trump administration continues its crusade to remake America.
As women and their supporters marched around Union Square, the issues being forwarded this year had a broader feel than usual.
A protestor named Theresa explained how the rally differed from those of the past.
“The Women’s March is an annual event where women come together to protest and to protect women’s rights and to make certain that the world is aware of the issues going on in our democracy currently,” she said. “And so, all of that is being undermined at this time and we want to make our voices heard.”
Most of those voices were aimed squarely at President Trump, who Sarah Allan from Sebastopol referred to, derisively, as “45.”
“And they need the vocal support of each of us to make as much noise as we can, and demonstrate that ’45’ does not have a mandate to be a dictator,” she told the crowd through a bullhorn. “Now, we decide how we will respond to this existential threat to our country, to our families, to our lives.”
“With what’s happening for women in general, National Women’s Day is hugely important,” said Gail Hoben from Sunnyvale. “But in the face of all of the horrific, really hateful things, destructive things, that are going on, it’s even more powerful.”
There were those who came out to support women in their fight to preserve reproductive rights, including some men from a group called Project Jericho.
“We’re all brothers, we’re all sons, we’re all someone who has a woman in our lives,” said Zacary Shuaib. “Women are dying in parking lots because they’re not able to have medical treatment. It’s not right.”
But for many, it was not so much about preserving a specific right, as saving a country.
“This is what democracy looks like,” roared the protestors.
But not everyone was feeling hopeless. Carole Seligman said she felt the threat but took solace in the size of the crowds turning out to protest.
“We’re in big danger. This is an openly fascistic people running the government,” she said. “But this kind of thing is going on all over the country. So, there’s a groundswell of resistance and opposition. And I’m very hopeful about that.”
It was the younger generation that was looking at past civil rights struggles to find hope for the future.
“If those movements are in the past, then this movement will eventually be in the past because, if we keep fighting, we will get through it,” said 17-year-old Grey Vasconcelos from San Francisco.
“I think I have a lot of hope for the future,” said her friend Lila Raj, “and all of us do, especially with our generation. I have faith that we have a stake in the future and we care enough to make that change that we want to see.”
It seems everyone wants change but America is bitterly divided over what that should be. Half of the nation’s voices belong to women and nearly half of them voted for Mr. Trump. So, the fight may not be with one man but, rather, with ourselves.
John Ramos
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