Women's March, Seattle, January 21, 2017

"Pledge to... Vote - Speak - Organize - for our core values - For All"

A friend and I went to the Women's March, the day after inauguration. I spent some time thinking about what message I wanted to share. I knew this was a big march, with a lot of different causes coming together, and it was also a lot of people's first time they had been moved to attend a march of any kind (like my friend). So I decided I'd hold a sign up with a message to them.

It doesn't stop here, I wanted to say. This is a marathon, not a sprint. There's no magic power that turns big crowds into good governance. It takes work, rest, and dedication. We all want a better future even if we disagree on how to get there. We can find commonalities that are more inspiring than our differences.

"Pledge to Vote - Speak - Organize - for our core values - for all."

Adding a second message to my sign - "Standing on the Side of Love" 

The streets were filled shoulder to shoulder. We connected with a Unitarian Universalist group of women of different generations (easy to spot with their yellow shirts and signs). One talked about her activism in the 70's, how much has changed - she sees protests being respected more, and many more people and young activists involved today.



I asked many marchers what message they hoped people would take away from the day. "Trump shouldn't treat people like that. We don't do that. It's not okay," said one 8-year-old boy. 

a friend's sign.

At one point we stopped to wait for someone, and took a look around. There was no end in sight to the people. For 3.5 miles and 5 hours, we walked across Seattle. The mood was energized, empowered, determined.

as we approached the Space Needle, people cheered from the rooftops

  As we approached the Space Needle, people cheered from the rooftops in downtown. The marchers cheered back. many of the people I talked to - women, men, young, old, black, white, straight, gay - said they hoped people would remember that we're united. Many of the issues we care about intersect. We have serious concerns we'll make sure are addressed and we won't stop here.

I know my message was heard. Now let's act on it.