Women’s March, 2018

I didn’t go to the Women’s March last year. I was too angry. I was too hurt. I couldn’t bring myself to march. I was at home, licking my wounds.

I know a lot can happen in a year. This year I felt it. We flipped the House of Delegates in Virginia. We defeated Roy Moore in Alabama.

We shut down the government.

We didn’t shut down the government. Trump did. But it felt like the right thing to do. I know it sounds cynical, but for 9 years, we let racists push us around. Now the actual situation better reflects the emotional truth.

What are we gonna do about it? I’m not sure I have the answer. But this year, I went to the Women’s March. It was 48 degrees in Chicago. Some might call it divine intervention. It was a beautiful day to march. I don’t want to call it a protest since the day was too hopeful to categorize under protest.

I’m going to share some of the pictures I took. When it comes to being around crowds of people with signs, I’ve developed an approach.

It dawned on me, when I went to the inauguration of George W. Bush. Back then, I wasn’t using a digital camera. I had to be discerning about the pictures I took since I only had so much film and it was expensive. I forced myself to get over my reluctance about approaching seemingly infuriated strangers, asking if I could take their picture. To my surprise, they were happy to have their picture taken.

I suppose I shouldn’t have been surprised. But I’m shy by nature and it’s intimidating walking up to a stranger whose wearing her convictions for everyone to see like the tattooed lady.

My favorite part of the Women’s March happened at the Federal Building. There were counter protestors, people with signs about Jesus, and his hatred of sinners.

There were ugly signs about abortion. There were ugly signs with fire promising Hell. I’m not going to repeat the signs. I’m not going to give them power by sharing the pictures I took, since it’s exactly what they’re hoping I’ll do.

Besides, it’s not about the protestors or the counter protestors. It’s about the police.

Once the police realized things were heating up, a single file line of police officers on bicycles surrounded the counter protestors. They made sure everyone gave them space. And then they escorted the counter protestors away from the Federal Building. No one got hurt. It was elegant.

After it was over, I made sure to thank the police officers.

There’s a difference between protest and assault. I get the feeling the police learned something from the calamity of Charlottesville. We all learned something, besides President Trump. 

Sometimes there aren’t two sides to the story. Sometimes there’s one side to the story, as was the case in Charlottesville.

Luckily for those of us in Chicago, there won’t be two sides to debate in the morning. Just pretty pictures to share. Hope you enjoyed mine.