History was made yesterday when women (and men) marched all over the US to support women’s rights. I myself marched up near my in-laws in Port Jervis, NY, along with 450 people. While that certainly wasn’t the same as being in Washington, D. C., NYC, or L.A., I feel like I did what I needed to do. And the reason why I did it? My 9-year-old daughter.
I want her to have equal rights. I want her to be allowed to make healthcare decisions about her own body. I want her to know that Planned Parenthood is around should she need to get her healthcare there or send a friend there.
This was a very peaceful march (thank you to the Port Jervis Sheriff’s office and the NYS Troopers that were there), save for one pickup truck filled full of 20-something boys shouting, “Trump” and a silly women standing up out the passenger side of an SUV shouting, “Get over it”. The police pulled her over a few minutes later for violating a seat belt law. Let me be clear, I don’t like Trump, and I did not vote for Trump – but he was elected and I have accepted that. I was NOT marching against Trump yesterday. Out of the 500 ish people that were there, I only saw one man with anti-Trump sign. That may have been a reason for a lot of people marching, but that wasn’t my reason.
I was marching because I don’t want my rights as a woman disappearing and I want to show my daughter that I am caring about something I believe in. I don’t want abortion to be illegal and women punished if they make the decision to get an abortion. I don’t want the right to choose taken away from women. I marched to stand with Planned Parenthood. My mother-in-law marched for Planned Parenthood – in fact, this was her idea to march. She felt very strongly (and was quoted in the article in the Times Herald Record). Planned Parenthood does a lot of good for women that really need it. They screen for breast cancer and so many other things. While I am lucky to have excellent healthcare, other women aren’t as lucky.
By marching, I hope the Trump administration realizes that they should support us and keep Planned Parenthood funded. I hope he can make good things happen for the US. I hope that he can govern effectively. Most of all, I hope and pray that this country will be okay.
You may not support what I do. You may feel different than I do. You are allowed your own opinion – just respect that I have mine too. And I chose to march yesterday. And I chose to bring my daughter so she could see that women have a voice and that voice needs to be heard.
My daughter attended the marches in CA. Good for you for attending as well.
We had a big march where I live and their were tons of people. I think it is so good to have this March for Women’s rights and let our voices be heard!