Women’s March Los Angeles, 1.19.19
For the third year in a row, women and their allies across the country set aside time to join with friends and family to participate in the 2019 Women’s March. Although the movement has celebrated victories with the recent 2018 mid-term elections, as with many grassroots movements, it has also been challenged to withstand struggles from within. The words that resonated the most with me from the platform at the rally were from a 15 year-old Black Lives Matter activist asking us all, “What are we doing in between marches” to push forward for justice for ALL and “for those that have privilege, how are we using our platforms and privilege to push for justice?”
The numbers this year were smaller, but many carried the flag of persistence, such as the Angeleno family pictured above. Having marched in Washington D.C. in 2016 and Los Angeles last year in 2017, my impression overall from this year’s march in L.A. was the significant number of families participating together. There were many children playing in a playground in front of City Hall as we walked up to the main staging area. Family participation was true for my family as well, with my husband and millennial-aged kids joining me for the first time. Below is a set of women who told me they were all related, as well as what appeared to be a mom and daughter – this was very typical of the day! I loved the generational approach to many that came together to stand for justice.
Women’s March Los Angeles, 1.19.19
The causes were diverse, but I was moved to see the older moms, aunties, and sisters modeling the importance of each woman’s and girl’s voice:
Women’s March Los Angeles, 1.19.19
It was a warm and sunny So Cal day in Downtown Los Angeles for the third annual Women’s March. It just never seems hard to join in with a water bottle, hat and comfortable pair of shoes!
And of course, it is always fun to see the creativity of the signs people make:
“I wouldn’t wanna be the guy who pissed off all these women” ~
Women’s March Los Angeles, 1.19.19
In the future, I hope to do better with my sign – some folks are seriously artistic as well as pointed in their messaging:
“Your Silence Will Not Protect You” ~
Women’s March Los Angeles, 1.19.19
“Super Callous Fragile Racist Sexist Nazi Potus” ~
Women’s March Los Angeles, 1.19.19
“Notorious RGB” ~
Women’s March Los Angeles, 1.19.19
“Allow Me to Reintroduce Myself” & “Women are the Wall and Trump Will Pay” ~
Women’s March Los Angeles, 1.19.19
My mother, grandmother and I were all born in Los Angeles County, and my daughters were too. One of the things I love so much about L.A. is the diversity. It feels like a Southern Californian value that “every human is valuable and each voice offers a unique contribution”, whether native born or recent immigrant“!
Women’s March Los Angeles, 1.19.19
Women’s March Los Angeles, 1.19.19
Women’s March Los Angeles, 1.19.19
Women’s March Los Angeles, 1.19.19
I am so impressed with the millennial generation! Culture Honey has written about the “March for Our Lives” students before, and I am amazed at the results their heartfelt and well-organized efforts have made in terms of implementing new gun laws and electing officials that support common sense gun laws. I love to see these young people taking civic impact seriously – all the while having a great day together:
Women’s March Los Angeles, 1.19.19
Women’s March Los Angeles, 1.19.19
Women’s March Los Angeles, 1.19.19
One of the most energetic moments of this year’s rally at the end of the march was when an artist performed the 1978 Gloria Gaynor disco classic “I Will Survive“. In the #metoo #timesup era, the words seemed to take on deeper significance. We danced and sang in community to the familiar tune!
Final two impressions – again, “the family that marches together….”
Women’s March Los Angeles, 1.19.19
And… SHE WILL PERSIST!
Women’s March Los Angeles, 1.19.19
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