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We Made HERstory!
We Made HERstory!
Women Marching on Washington Over a Million Strong
by Lluvia & Emma Mulvaney-Stanak
Over
1.15 million people in a town ruled by a dick, a colon and a bush. Ah,
the perfect setting for a Planned Parenthood gathering. Feminism took
many forms in the April 26th March for Women's Lives in Washington D.C.
Scores of polished professionals with
lipstick and Louis Vuiton handbags covered in pro-choice stickers marched
side by side with young feminists shirtless with flowers as bras. The
largest march in the history of the US turned out 1.15 million people
to demand access to contraception, sex education, abortion, and women's
rights. Entire families turned out, elderly couples, college students
shouting "1, 2, 3, 4, kick Bush out the door" and "Whose
choice? My choice."
Lluvia: "The vibe was indescribable.
It was a pure community of 1 million people who were there to defend the
right to choose. It really struck me and I was in awe, walking among the
throngs of people. Even a lifetime of activism and regular attendance
at rallies and marches with many, many people - this was my first democratic
gathering where the energy was just so positive. It really made me have
a renewed sense of hope, in these times of frustration, anger and negativity."
Whoopi, Madeline Albright, Ani Difranco,
Hillary Rodham Clinton, Gloria Steinem, and Ashley Judd were just a few
of the incredible line-up of speakers who rallied the crowd with inspiring
and witty words and songs of truth, that exposed the Bush Administration
as the most anti-choice and anti-woman group of politicians we have seen
in decades.
The march poured into the streets
of the District with throngs of people from all over the country. Signs
ranged from the need for quality sex education and protection for abortion
rights to repealing Bush’s global gag rule. This gag rule prevents
non-government organizations that receive U.S. aid from providing abortions
or even educating women on contraception. As a direct result, many non-governmental
organizations have lost funding, and ironically, abortion rates have increased
- along with death rates (as high as one-third) as a consequence from
botched, black-market abortions.
But what would a jolly pro-choice
rally be without the fanatic pro-life counter-protestors? At one street
where fewer than 200 pro-life protestors stood, pro-choice march organizers
held a sign mimicking a road sign reading, "Danger, Entering Fanatic
Zone." Barely lining the street, the few (and attempting to be loud)
pro-lifers held traditional graphic fetus signs, bibles, rosaries and
religious condemnation signs. They attempted to stun and silence the marchers
as we passed using bullhorns, but the enthusiasm of the pro-choice crowd
easily drowned out the fanatics. By far the best retort (besides ignoring
them), was a very popular chant, "Pro-life? That's a lie! You don't
care if women die." More impressively, several pro-choice marchers
dropped out of the main march and encircled the pro-lifers to emphasize
that indeed they represent a minority viewpoint.
Emma: "The march reaffirmed my
faith in the political power of people, and most of all, women. Every
speaker emphasized the need to 'organize, organize, organize' when we
all returned home, and by the sense of energy in the crowd, I am extremely
hopeful that we will not only see a regime change but a shift in local
and state-level politicians who are anti-choice and anti-woman."
Beyond Roe v. Wade, this march really
marks a revived popular political movement in this country. Speakers during
the main rally emphasized that the majority of Americans are indeed pro-choice
but the media conglomeration and religious right fanaticism reflected
in the current Administration has skewed popular perception. With the
election rapidly approaching there is once again a sense of hope that
our thoughts and ideas can be expressed through political action, media
and music without being gagged. A hope that our mothers, sisters and daughters
will be able to choose what is right for their bodies and their lives.
And most importantly, there is hope that indeed we may see a regime change
in November.
Lluvia Mulvaney-Stanak is the co-director of Outright Vermont. Emma
Mulvaney-Stanak Director of the Vermont Livable Wage campaign.
