By Jennifer McShane
22nd Jan 2017
22nd Jan 2017
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - JANUARY 21: Demonstrators with a sign saying " Not my President, We are not going back, hope never fades and everybody love everybody " make their way from the iamsterdam statue in front of the Rijksmuseum towards US Consulate during the Women's March held at Museumplein on January 21, 2017 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The Women's March originated in Washington DC but soon spread to be a global march calling on all concerned citizens to stand up for equality, diversity and inclusion and for women's rights to be recognised around the world as human rights. Global marches are now being held, on the same day, across seven continents. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
Yesterday was a day of huge significance. As millions of women, children and men stepped out peacefully to protest Trump and their human rights; the world paid attention. Coverage was everywhere; every major news channel live-streamed the entire main march – which became the largest presidential protest march in history – in Washington while worldwide, over 700 sister marches took place in solidarity. People took time to don pink hats, make banners and walk, cheer and chant for a better future – together, they made plain their vision for something great, and it was starkly different to Trump’s grim promise for America. Yes, we want change, but not by building walls, imposing threats and scrapping civil, LGBT and women’s rights; our change comes in the form of unity, and acts of love and genuine goodness that means we, as women, have the basic rights we’re entitled to.
To those that dismissed the protest; who said it would “accomplish nothing,” you’ve missed the point. Trump is in the White House now, that we alone cannot change. However, he hasn’t taken away our voices. The united marches were a symbol and statement that said we do not have to simply stand back and accept his “promise” for a dark future that would see us segregated with no rights to our own bodies. The marches have accomplished something wonderful – they reinforced the power of the people. They made us get up, shout and say no, this is not the future I want for me, for my mother, for my sister or daughter. We want a better life, no we demand a better life. And shout we did, in a glorious coming together of amazing women from all walk of life.
We cannot change the fact that we have a pussy-grabbing president gleefully rubbing his orange-tinted hands at the podium, but we have made it harder for his government cronies to put an unjust law bill into action. For every decision Trump makes that will benefit white men only (and he will make many of those), we will protest as we did yesterday and it will soon be impossible for Trump to ignore. If millions of people want change, it can and will happen. Suffragettes did it long before us, and now we’re prepared to take the reigns. Because how can we stand back and say nothing, do nothing? We can’t. We won’t. To sum up one of the best quotes from yesterday: “[Trump] thought he could America back. He didn’t count on over 1 million women in pink hats taking America forward.”?
The marchers broke records around the world and masses of celebrity influencers attended, saying empowering words to motivate and uplift from Gloria Steinem to Ashley Judd (her ‘rap speech’ was beyond amazing)?and Madonna who got the crowd chanting with her fiery speech: “[This is] our refusal as women to accept this new age of tyranny. Where not just women are in danger but alls people. Where people uniquely different might be considered a crime. It took us this darkness to wake us the f**k up.”
And The Guardian picked up some of the best chants in the crowds:
?We want a leader, not a creepy tweeter.?
?Can’t build a wall – hands too small.?
?He’s orange; he’s gross, he lost the popular vote.?
Scroll for another selection of some of the best social media reaction.
‘Hope Not Fear’
Indeed.
And what a beautiful piece by Louisa Cannell. #womensmarch – pic.twitter.com/7h3Bzx79nB? Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) January 21, 2017
I love women. I live for my two daughters. And I am full of pride and unity with all women today.
A photo posted by Drew Barrymore (@drewbarrymore) on
The #womensmarch has taken place in all 7 continents today. It ends in cities across the US, where crowds are enormous. A remarkable sight. pic.twitter.com/mGGqUMkAA5
? Rossalyn Warren (@RossalynWarren) January 21, 2017
A little reminder of why we are marching #womensmarch pic.twitter.com/3ShMODSZ5W
? sam baker (@SamBaker) January 21, 2017
.@MelissaBenoist IS a legend ?#WomensMarch pic.twitter.com/VPsDCaPcCJ
? Camilla L News (@CamillaLNews) January 21, 2017
Behold: well behaved women making history @womensmarchlon #womensmarchlondon #nastywomenunite pic.twitter.com/X4KjQXyeuv
? Lucy Brooks (@LucyKateBrooks) January 21, 2017
#womensmarchlondon pic.twitter.com/9whfM2oLxy
? Anna Frame (@annaframe) January 21, 2017
? Bim Adewunmi (@bimadew) January 21, 2017
Totes emosh seeing the photos from #WomensMarch around the world. Look at all the strength all around us. pic.twitter.com/kEmCCYueD8
? Ashley (@ashleyfryer) January 21, 2017
From the Women’s March in Paris (photo credit: my mother) pic.twitter.com/eQedRLD455
? Hadley Freeman (@HadleyFreeman) January 21, 2017
The #WomensMarch in England, France, Australia, and Germany today pic.twitter.com/UhhxK0lUks
? Rossalyn Warren (@RossalynWarren) January 21, 2017
Backstage at the march, NASA’s finest @amyschumer @womensmarch pic.twitter.com/NdMWKB3gRZ
? Amber Tamblyn (@ambertamblyn) January 21, 2017
We march to show our struggles are not isolated, but bound together by rainbow thread. I don’t rise if you don’t rise #WomensMarch
? Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) January 21, 2017
Sir Ian McKellen’s sign is EVERYTHING#WomensMarch pic.twitter.com/XS3hQ14Mir
? space nerd (@shxrlocked) January 21, 2017
A photo posted by Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) on
Yesterday, we made history. Go forward so very, very proud.
Also Read
