Why I March

One of my favorite quotes is by Martin Luther King Jr. "Never, never be afraid to do what's right, especially if the well-being of a person or animal is at stake. Society's punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way." When I was 19, and thought I was pregnant, I could not legally find out if I were without parental permission. So I lied to a doctor and found out that I was, indeed, pregnant. Abortion was legal at the time in New York and California, but I chose not to do that. I was in college and later read the book, “Our Bodies, Ourselves,” presenting the then-radical idea that women should have control of their own bodies. I learned about Planned Parenthood’s willingness to help young people with birth control information and family planning. While I made the choice to keep my pregnancy, I came to feel very strongly that all women should have the right and access to the means to prevent pregnancy and to c...

I march in the hopes that my children can look back and be proud of the principles for which I stood. I hope for a country and world in which every person has an equal voice and value isn't placed on people. There is no doubt that women have made great strides toward equality, but there is still work to be done and old ways of thinking that should not be acceptable to us as a nation.  I listen to my children and the innocence they have toward others and the love they show without noticing what makes us different, but rather, their focus on what makes us the same.  I have hope that we can create a world that allows for that type of love and acceptance toward all. Marching is a "step" in that direction.

I march to make racism wrong again in the dangerous age of Trump.  Our fine experiment in representative self-government may be consigned to the ash-heap of history due to our fatal founding flaw, the denial of humanity to people of color forcibly captured or sold and shipped to the Americas as slaves. That all such gross inequalities are based on the predominantly patriarchal violence of (white) men is finally being seen for its corrosive effects.   I march to bear witness to the worth and aspirations of all people without racial or gender restrictions. My liberty is at risk as long as gross inequalities are the rule in my country and elsewhere. We are imperiled by a racist, narcissistic President who promotes greed and power as the coin of the realm. It is a critical time requiring vigilance and peaceful resistance. Our freedoms are fragile. Silence is collusion.

I march because voting is not enough in the post-Citizen's United era. Because caring and wrapping myself in family, Nature, and time-tested liberal ideals is not enough when bigotry in all its hideous forms is respectable among the men and women who govern us. Because reduce, reuse, recycle is not enough to safeguard the health and beauty of the planet and all its beings when science as the path to compassionate understanding is under radical attack. Because if I don't stand to say “Enough!” to those who kill, incarcerate, and oppress people like me because we don't look or act like them, what kind of country will I leave for my children and yours? Because bickering with the Left, Right, or Center in our political culture distracts us from the orderly pursuit of a just and equitable society for all, wing nuts included. Because we need a national dialogue on 'personhood' that isn't immediately shut down by enraged ideologues. Because w...

I care about the future!

I march for my brother who has an incurable and rare form of lymphoma that is in remission because of a $12,000 a month chemotherapy drug. Without Medicaid assistance he could not afford to take it because his immune system is very poor. I march to send a message to Governor Ducey that my brother would love to be able to work in return for receiving Medicaid help. But he has days where he is extremely tired and is not able to do do. The governor needs to know not all Medicaid recipients are “takers.” I march for my brother’s high-school-aged son, who only has his father and worries if his dad will keep getting the drug he needs to keep his cancer in remission. I march for all of the teachers in public schools who are committed to teaching our children and struggle with over full classrooms, too little support, low salaries, and the constant cuts to public school funding. I march for all the women who need access to Planne...

I am marching because alone, my voice is only a whisper in the dark. Being with like minds in the light of day? My voice becomes a roar.   Sitting in quiet desperation solves nothing. Walking in the March is nourishment for my soul and hope for the future. Marching one year after the first march shows the world we are still passionate about the issues that matter. We aren't going away!

I march to join my sisters in a show of strength and unity. We will not be silent any longer!

I march because we build strength and confidence together when we stand up in public for something. We marched in the 60’s and early 70’s for civil rights and brought about real change. Since the 2016 election marching has become an essential part of my life, because I can’t sit back and watch all that I hold dear about this country be taken away for the benefit of corporate donors and the 1%. I call, resistbot, and send cards to my representatives, but in marching I am joining others and creating a collective strength. Many people cannot march, but they can see us marching and know they are not alone in their desire for decency and the protection of basic human rights.

Last year my daughter-in-law, Meg Bohrman, my granddaughter, Opal Bohrman, and I went to Washington D.C. to participate in the Women's March on Washington. Three generations of women with one goal -- to let the President and world know that we are watching and intend to guard women's rights and the rights of all people. It was an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime experience that I cherish!We will continue to march on: Sisterhood, Resisterhood, Persisterhood! 

I march because I am so sorry to not have become politically active before now. I am afraid that this administration will: Destroy our democracy. Deprive our children and grandchildren of living in a free country. Kill or maim more of our children in wars for money or oil. Destroy our environment. Further divide our countrymen from each other because of racism, misogyny, and hatred. Please join us. There is no time to waste! 

I am marching because I remember the days prior to Roe v Wade. Desperate women could not obtain safe and affordable reproductive services. If they became pregnant and for whatever reason could not carry that pregnancy, they were forced to seek out what were called "back alley" abortions. Too many of these were botched and women either bled to death or we left unable to have children when they felt they were able to provide emotionally, physically and emotionally for a child. Women who had no insurance and contracted an STD could not obtain treatment and again this could result in infertility. Worse, more babies were born with the effects of untreated maternal syphilis. The drastic cutting of funding for organizations such as Planned Parenthood puts women at risk for all of these horrible outcomes again. Cutting of reproductive care at county health departments means more women will have untreated STDs, more unplanned pregnancies resulting in an ever-growing generationa...

I march because I'm tired of being negated from the time I can remember as being "just a girl." Being told my father wasn't paying for my college education because I'd just get married and have babies and waste all that money. Working in a hardware/auto parts store and being told the (male) customer "would rather talk to a man," as though I didn't have the brains to look up his spark plugs in the book just as the (male) owner would. Told to "settle down" when I was upset. Told by another employer I didn't make as much as a (male) colleague because I wasn't the head of a household as was my co-worker. What upsets me most is that after being treated in this manner for awhile, one begins to accept it and feel "less than," which perpetuates the treatment. And don't even get me started on the sexual harassment! My first experience with that was at 4 years old. I heard someone today talking about educating girls...

I march for all of us, and for our children's children, but, most importantly, I march for my son and daughter-in-law who are active duty US Air Force pilots. They are out there, every day, defending our nation. I want to make sure that the nation that they are defending is one worth fighting for: an America which respects the tenets of our democracy, which is inclusive, which has a moral compass--a U S of A which we are ALL proud to call home.

I march because I have always marched. Even as a young teenager, I saw inequality and senseless war. I march to fight injustice. Even more so, under the watch of this crooked administration I see injustice INCREASING. I see our public lands being sold to the highest bidder. I see environmental racism, institutional racism and systemic racism. People of Color are not safe in our country. I see immigrants demonized. I see oil pipelines taking precedence over clean water and treaty rights. I see women shouting #ME TOO from the rooftops. I see our free press imperiled. I see our children’s health neglected and threatened to save a few corporate tax dollars. I see a pretty good attempt at insuring our people being dismantled due to greed and revenge. I see people LITERALLY DYING because they are poor and cannot afford health care. In marching together we create solidarity, we foster community and we become strong. Women in this country have been fighting for centuries. We know how and wi...

I was inspired to start demonstrating from the night of the 2016 election. I have had several other moments such as the election in Alabama and the Weinstein coverage that keeps me realizing that women's reports of abuse and assault are not being taken seriously. To have these individuals holding elected offices in government is a reminder of the lack of empathy and justice for every victim of assault or abuse. To have a President who thinks that assault is something to joke about (locker talk) I find beyond distasteful. Anyone who thinks that this behavior is funny or something to brag or boost about is not worthy of holding any position in government. I think the time is here to say "enough is enough." No more.

I am marching for my two young sons. I am marching so that they may grow up to live in a more equitable and safe world. When women's voices are heard and their stories are heeded the world becomes a better place for everyone.

The Womens March to me means freedom--for the present and preservation of the victories of the past--the years of women standing up for their rights as women, mothers, lovers and Americans with a voice asking to be respected. The March stands for more than my personal story, much more. I fear young and old, ignorant of our past, Americans without respect for human rights, will cause a backwards slide towards repression of human rights especially the rights of those who lack the power to resist. I respect the gifts of all the women who came before me, who sacrificed life and freedom to make us all more free. That is why I march and ask others to do also. But...like many I have a story. I am a METOO.  I was regularly assaulted by a family member from the age of 6.5 until 8.5. I was so unaware, innocent that I did not know it was a sexual assault. I had lived 24/7 with my Gramda in an all woman's household until 6.5 years old.  I was told about the birds and t...

My Story is simple! My story is common! I was molested during my childhood by a relative. I have been a victim of domestic violence. I have received foodstamps and lived in section 8 housing. I was a pregnant single teen with an alcoholic father and an abusive mother. I'm proud to announce that I was able to overcome the adversity and by becoming a Nurse Practitioner I was able to give back to my community! I March because I Care....and because I can. Push Back with Pussy Hats!  

I march because I can. I know everyone shares the anger, frustration, helplessness and hopelessness the 2016 election caused. The instant I saw the Women’s March posted on Facebook a year ago in November, I said to myself, “I can do that!”  I marched in Washington, D.C. The experience of a lifetime, starting when I got on the plane in Phoenix in the last boarding group and realized at least 99% of the passengers were going to the march. Some of the men were wearing pussy hats. I felt I could make a difference and be a part of something important and just do something with my anger and frustration. The estimate was that 190,000 people would show up for the march in D.C. Sometime during the day I heard 500,000.  It wasn’t a march, it was a mob. No one could march anywhere because all the streets around the capital were packed with people.  When I got back to the hotel I watched the news in tears: 700,000 people marched in Los Angeles! 500,000 in New York City! What a joy...

In 2015 I did nothing in the political arena; I was asked, but declined because I was “too busy”. Ever since I have regretted that answer.  My first political action in 2017 was to take part in the Women’s March. Now  I “march” every day because the current administration is destroying our society piece by piece and making decisions without input from both parties or sexes. Women are not represented  equally in the current administration’s cabinet, nor are they nominated for judgeships. In addition, women are not respected by the current president, who sets a poor moral example for our children and grandchildren. Women are being denied their reproductive rights; impoverished children are without medical insurance; LBGTQ have been denied serving in the military; immigrants are no longer welcome and their families are being ripped apart; our environment is being ravaged; our standing in the world community is tarnished and ill-considered “tweets” have replaced thou...