In Skagway, marchers made a modular sign in anticipation of strong winds. (Photo by Andrew Cremata)
Last weekend, the day after Donald Trump’s inauguration, people around the world gathered at women’s marches in the name of a wide range of issues. Equality, unity, human rights, and environmental justice, to name a few. From Washington D.C., across the United States to Haines and Skagway. In the Upper Lynn Canal, the wind blew hard and the cold was biting, but turnout far exceeded expectations.
In Haines, the crowd gathered at the Chilkat Center before heading outside. Margaret Friedenauer, one of the organizers, said she’d spoken to the police department ahead of time about how many people would be out marching.
“All I need to know is when, where, how many people you think you’ll have. I said maybe 25,” said Friedenauer.
The crowd laughed because, looking around the room, there are way more than 25 people. And even more outside. At least 150 showed up, despite strong winds and frigid temperatures.
In Haines, organizers expected around 25 people. More than 150 showed up. (Abbey Collins)
Melissa Aronson helped with the Haines march.
“Personally, I have to say I missed the 60s,” said Aronson. “Welcome back.”
The group bundled up, put on boots and ice grippers, and marched for about a mile around Haines. Assemblyman Tom Morphet brought his trumpet.
Women, men, children and animals walked together, for many different reasons. Participants held signs that read things like “Inclusive, Diversity, Environmental Justice,” “My Body, My Choice,” and “Resist, Protect, Create.” They filled out a group poster with things like “Disability Rights Matter,” and “Make America Kind Again.”
Women, men, children and animals made it out to march (Abbey Collins)
“Equality, fairness, justice,” said Assemblyman Ron Jackson.
“We want to be all inclusive of all minorities, and we are concerned about the state of our world,” said Patty Kermoian. “And we are just here to show support and solidarity.”
“My issues are primarily healthcare, education and the environment,” said Patty Brown. “Health care including reproductive care.”
“I believe that we’re all different, yet equal expressions of humanity,” said Diane La Course.
Hannah Revenaugh-Bochart was among those marching. She said when you have a platform, it’s important to speak up.
In Haines, the march started at the Chilkat Center. (Abbey Collins)
“If you come from a place of privilege like I do, it’s really important to get the word out because we’re going to have a really rough time these next four years,” said Revenaugh-Bochart. “If you’re anything other than a straight, white male it’s going to be kind of crappy. So I figure, if you’ve got a platform to get out and speak, you have to use it. Otherwise why are we here.”
Participants looked beyond the course of Saturday’s march. Friedenauer said after it’s over, it’s important to stay active and involved.
“I think today is about realizing there are some common goals but people can find their niche and work on that the best way they can for the years to come,” said Friedenauer.
That was echoed by Aronson.
In Skagway, 112 people came out to march. (Photo by Cassie Anderson)
“Social justice, environmental health, economic equality, or economic sanity, all really tie together,” said Aronson. “They’re not different disparate ideas. They work together. And whatever it is that we feel like we can do, that’s what we should do.”
Aronson referred to the event as ‘2020 Foresight.’ She said it’s time to think ahead towards improving things in years to come.
Mike Denker said he joined the march for support and equality. He said keeping that message strong when the march is over requires civic engagement.
“Our closest connection to government is local,” said Denker. “So getting active on a local level with our local government. Through the assembly, through committees, volunteer on committees, attend meetings.”
In Haines and Skagway, participants faced strong winds. (Abbey Collins)
In Skagway, the weather was just as challenging and the turnout similarly strong. Organizer Annie Kidd Matsov expected around 20 people, and 112 came out to march. It was cold and windy. Participants created a modular sign to lessen the impact of the gusts. Like the wind, Matsov said the march was powerful.
“I think if 2016 taught me anything it was that the vocal minority in this country can really be powerful,” said Matsov. “And so it was really great to see so much support for this issue and just to stand in solidarity with the other women and men that were our for the event. It really touched me, it was great.”
The message was clear from those marching in the Upper Lynn Canal. Their fight for equality did not end on Saturday, that was just day one.
This is a politicized walk, injustice is always prevalent, and a year ago the same issues were going on but no one was fighting for them this public ally.
I find it unfortunate that people need an excuse to get on there moral high horse.
A problem in Haines has always been that people rally to specific things that they feel personally attached to, if you really are for what you walked for, leave Haines and go fight these problems globally.
Maybe we had the most rights of any country in the world when we couldn’t vote or go to college or hold elected office or open a bank account. WE WANT MORE, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
So who is standing up for Diana Lapham while you are all seeking equality. Get real.
I just don’t understand why The Women haven’t done this before our President Donald Trump was elected.
We live in a country that women have more rights than any country in the world. I just think this is purely political.
@Finley – I find the idea that “women have more rights than any country in the world” to be pretty fundamentally flawed. Just because it’s better in the US than in any country in the world (this is false, but I’ll get to that in a second) does that mean it’s good enough? Shouldn’t we want women to be treated equal to men everywhere? And by no means has that equality been reached in the US. Women still make roughly 70 cents for every dollar men make, and that’s when considering all other things equal. If this was a true democracy, wouldn’t men and women be equally represented in congress and in Trump’s cabinet? Sadly this is not the case.
The US ranks #28 according to the World Economic Forum when it comes to the gender gap (you can see a breakdown of that score here: http://reports.weforum.org/global-gender-gap-report-2015/economies/#economy=USA). That’s after countries like Mozambique, Burundi, Nicaragua, and the Philippines. Not all countries known for their stellar human rights records.
As for the timing of the Women’s March – it was a carefully chosen date to maximize coverage and awareness of the issues many women still face in the US. For this it was successful. And to prove their point, Trump has already enacted legislation that will damage the ability of women, not only in the US but all over the world, to control their bodies and their futures. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexico_City_Policy.
What is politics if not the voicing of a group and a person’s beliefs and concerns?