Local women march on Washington
Amidst the million or so people to join the Women’s March on Washington this past weekend were a number women from Creemore and Mulmur.
They all say they were struck by the jovial tone of the demonstration and felt very welcome.
“After the election, I was pretty distraught as so many people were,” said Barb Halsall, who was among those who spent two nights on a bus and a full day marching in Washington to show opposition to US President Donald Trump on the day after his inauguration.
She said she lived in the United States for a few years during the 1960s when there was a lot of prejudice, discrimination and inequality.
“I just had this huge fear that we were going back to those times and you look at Trump’s inflammatory comments – racist, homophobic, xenophobic – they were all very prevalent back then… It’s a fear of history repeating and I had to do something,” said Halsall.
She said Trump has emboldened some politicians to behave like bullies but he has also emboldened ordinary people to stand up and say that’s not acceptable.
She went looking for a way to get to the March on Washington and a seat on the Soulomobile out of Toronto, organized by the women behind Soulotheatre.
When Sandra Lackie learned of a bus trip from Halsall, she was determined to go. Marci Lipman and Carolyn Chapman were also on the same bus, part of the 53 women who met at Union Station Friday night to travel in a caravan of busses through the night. In addition to being prepped on the legalities of protesting and crossing the border, those on the Soulomobile wrote about their experiences and were interviewed by journalists.
While at Union Station, they met up briefly with Mulmur resident Alessandra Schlums, 20, and her friend Brandy Davis, a 19-year-old Mono resident, who were taking one of the other busses.
Lipman said the Soulomobile parked with the other 1,200 busses and started marching toward the National Mall.
Chapman said she too was feeling quite low after the election.
“I thought, I could feel like this forever unless I just step up and do something,” she said.
She found the Soulomobile on Facebook and was able to get one of the last few seats.
“It was quite an experience. I am really glad I went,” said Chapman. “From a selfish point of view it has put me in a different place emotionally, very energized and hopeful but the turnout and the atmosphere down there was so amazing. It definitely was worth the effort.”
Organizers say more than one million people took part in the march in Washington but five million took part around the world. Aerial photos show streets crowded with women, men and children, many wearing pink pussy hats, and carrying colourful posters. Locals report the crowd was in high spirits, chanting slogans and singing songs of peace. Lackie said when she sees the aerial photos of the event, she is surprised at the vastness of the crowd because it did not feel oppressive. The Creemore crew had Canadian flags and people along the parade route were thanking them for coming from Canada to support the cause. They said people were coming out of their homes to thank them and cheer them on, even offering the use of their washrooms.
Lipman got separated from some members of the group and she couldn’t get anywhere near the rally but the rest of them ended up at the back of the stage where the speakers were.
“Basically, we just hung out and read all the great slogans and signs that were very, very clever,” said Lipman. “It was heartwarming, peaceful, positive and very upbeat. People were happy… I knew that I was one of however many people from all over the world who were marching in solidarity for this one purpose and cause, and it was very moving.”
Signs said things like, “We want a leader, not a creepy tweeter”, “Welcome to your first day. We will never go away”, “You’re orange, you’re gross, you lost the popular vote”, and “This is so bad, even introverts are here.”
“I am sure not everyone had a great experience but it felt like we were with one million of the nicest people you could ever meet,” said Lackie. “It was really inclusive. People were there for many different reasons.”
Lackie said after the rally, word was spreading that there were so many people in the streets that there was no room to march, but eventually the crowd started moving. The march continued through the day, maintaining its peaceful vibe. Organizers say no arrests were made during the event.
Schlums, reflecting on the trip, said it was the most incredible experience of her life, possibly that she’ll ever have.
“The friendliness and the welcoming nature of every single person present was unbelievable. As we walked up to the Capitol from our bus, Washington residents stood on their lawns to greet everyone and thank us for helping to support the causes,” she said. “All throughout the march, the chanting never ceased. We marched for women’s rights, for LGBTQ+ rights, for the Black Lives Matter movement, for the welcoming of refugees, for climate change, to name a few. It is so important to bring attention to these issues, especially when there are leaders who choose to dismiss the existence of these issues. This historical moment brought half a million people to Washington alone, and even more around the world with all the sister marches. Although this march only lasted for a day, the movement has been ongoing and will not stop until equality for all is achieved.”
Davis said she is grateful for the experience.
“Going to Washington, marching with thousands of people to not only celebrate diversity and love, but to also bring awareness to very real issues in the world like climate change, was the most empowering experience that I have and will ever be apart of,” she said. “In every direction you looked there were people of all ages, races, genders, sexual orientations (the list goes on), that came together to stand up for love and equality to all. I travelled to Washington to walk in the Women’s March to show that this “sister of the North” supports and loves them. One thing that I will always remember about that day was the numerous “thank you’s” we received just for being there, but it is me who should be thanking them. Thank you to the people who welcomed us, thank you to the people who I marched in solidarity with, and thank you to the people who I marched for… I am eternally grateful!”
People around the world are now asking, what comes next? American organizers have put out a call to action, asking people to write to their political representatives.
A similar call to action has been put by the Canadian organizers, who mounted marches in Toronto and across the country.
Visit canadianwomenmarch.ca.
