Women’s March on Boston Feels Like Democracy

Today I got to be part of something incredible. Today I marched with over 125,000 women and supporters to fight for what we believe in. For me, this march was not against Trump but against what he stands for and how we as the people have a right to show him that we won’t accept it. My goal today was to make a statement: In our free country, everyone should have equal rights — regardless of their gender, race, religion, economic status, or sexual orientation. This should be true in our country and across the world.

Today I got the chance to know what democracy feels like. The sense of sisterhood and passion was indescribable. I met a woman who looked at me and said, “I was here protesting the Vietnam War, and now I’m here again.” Her passion and strength is something that was shown across the faces of each person there. These people know how to fight and will not give up.

Today there was a sense of unity that grew during the whole march. I saw people who were 90-years-old carrying signs and wearing pins, and there were babies with “pussy hats” holding signs saying, “Future is Female.” The Boston Common was very crowded, and many people were trapped in the middle due to the large six-foot fences that surrounded the park. My 45-year-old mother, as well as my sister and many other women, hopped those fences to join the march. On the other side, I saw a man and his friends unsuccessfully trying to get over, so I left the crowd of marchers and offered to let the man stand on my leg through the fence and hoist himself up. He said he felt bad because my pants would get dirty, but eventually, he agreed, and he got up on top of the fence. While I held the grown man’s hand, he flung himself down. We all wanted to help one another because we were a team trying to achieve the same goal.

Today we were all given the fortune to be protected while we expressed our rights. Men in uniforms were everywhere while officers rode on bikes next to the marchers, some holding signs. At every corner we were greeted by dump trucks or fire trucks, all there to cheer us on and protect our right to express what we care about.

Today, before the march even started, the crowd got to hear some incredible men and women speak. A Native American girl and her mother sang “Amazing Grace” in Cherokee. Mayor Marty Walsh spoke out, not afraid of what backlash he may get for it. Elizabeth Warren said, “We can whimper. We can whine. Or we can fight back!” To me, this was extremely powerful because many Americans are scared about the new changes in our government. It’s easy for most to send out angry tweets or to express their views on Facebook, but the way to make change is to do something. We have the power to fight for what we believe in, but we can’t do that unless people take action.

Yesterday I was scared for our nation, but after today, I have hope: I know that no matter who’s in office, the American people will passionately fight for their beliefs.