Stetson Women Marched

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A panoramic view of an Orlando Women’s March. Photo by Ismode Lorjuste.

Jordan Bennett, Staff Writer

January 21, 2017 will always be known as the day the largest march in U.S. history took place. The Women’s March erupted in more than 550 cities all over the country including, Washington D.C., Orlando, Atlanta, San Francisco and St. Louis. Just in Washington D.C., the march was said to have brought out an estimated 470,000 participants according to the New York Times. In some locations, the sheer amount of people made actually marching impossible and most people were only able to stand or shuffle forward only a few inches at a time. Many Stetson students, faculty, and staff attended the Orlando march as well as the Washington D.C. protest. These individuals were excited to share their experiences of the event with The Reporter.

An Orlando protest sign. Photo by Ismode Lorjuste.

When asked how they heard about the Women’s March, two Stetson students, Ann Roche and Ismode Lorjuste, explained that they heard about it on Facebook over winter break. Other people heard it from their friends or family members. Organizers of the protest made phone calls to inform people about the event and Facebook pages were made to spread the word. Suddenly, this movement became bigger than anyone would have imagined.

An incredible variety of people joined Women’s Marches. There were men, women, LGBTQ+ people, old and young, and people of every race and color. Despite some of the media surrounding the event that displayed areas of people protesting the march itself, attendees stated that everyone at the march was welcoming and peaceful. Staff member Deb Holewinski stated that “there was absolutely no violence. Everyone was incredibly nice.” “I felt safe and protected,” said student Clare Sullivan. The entire atmosphere surrounding the event was one of togetherness and acceptance. Groups dedicated to Native American rights attended the march in D.C. and anti-Trump protesters came out in Orlando. Regardless of the reasons why you decided to attend, you were welcomed at the Women’s March.

Courtney Converse and another Stetson student pose for a photo while marching through Washington D.C.

I wanted to know specifically what caused people to participate in the march. Courtney Converse said that she wanted her voice to be heard. “It was almost like a calling.” She felt compelled to go and that to refuse would be a disservice to herself. While Holewinski said she “never thought about being an activist,” she understands that women in this country are not treated equally and for that reason alone she felt the need to be a part of the march. Tevin Williams, a male graduate student, commented: “As a feminist, equal rights are for everyone. I believe that women’s rights are everyone’s rights and I wanted to be even more empowered and educated on the movement.”

Deb Holewinski and her partner hold their protest signs on the National Mall.

Overall, every person I interviewed was grateful that they had the opportunity to experience the Women’s March. From hearing chants such as “Her body, her choice” to seeing signs with pictures of Donald Trump’s noticeable hair piece flipping back with the caption “Nope,” there definitely were moments to remember. The movement itself sent a message to our current administration that people are unhappy and that everyone does not have equal rights. To some, the Women’s March was only the beginning, but it is a big step in a positive direction.