Four Years Ago We Marched On Washington. Now What?

By Karen and Erica

Four years ago, Donald Trump was inaugurated. The following day, women marched on Washington.

We were there. We arrived on Inauguration Day, so we wandered down to the Mall and listened to the new President speak of “American carnage.” It was scary. But the many red-hatted MAGA supporters on the Mall were pleased with their victory, and they were not scary.

There were few pink-hatted people, like us, on the Mall. Those who were there were not so happy. But we wished the new President well and we did not fear the red hats. The red hats were cordial to the pink hats, and the pink hats were cordial to the red hats.

We saw absolutely no one in pelts or horns.

The next day, there were very few red hats to be seen, but we marched in a huge crowd of pink ones. We felt as if we were sending a message—that women insist on being heard. Specific policy points can be debated, but women’s rights cannot.

We were also having a wonderful time. It was a positive, hopeful, inclusive day. No-one seemed scared of us, either.

After the march, we were annoyed when certain opinionators expressed the view that we were wrong headed, that we were missing the point, that identity politics was destroying our country. What did they know? Well, they made some good points, but they were wrong—the Women’s March, as statement of and for women, was necessary.

This year, the prior administration is out, and a new administration is in, including a President even older than we are, and a Vice-President who is a Black woman. Had we foreseen their election four years ago, we would have felt elated, and our belief in the value of advocating for women would have been confirmed. But of course their election has been shadowed by the appalling events of recent weeks, including the invasion of the Capital and ever-climbing COVID deaths. American carnage for sure.

This year, we wish the new administration well, and we have a few thoughts to share with the President and Vice-President elect. But we cannot do it in person. We cannot even go to Washington, the capital of our country, to celebrate the peaceful, constitutional transfer of power, let alone to the Mall, to celebrate our preferred candidates’ victory. If we could go, we would be scared. New President Biden will issue an address to thousands of flags. This is a tragic state if affairs.

So we wonder. Were the naysaying opinionators right? Did we accomplish anything? Did we make things worse? Were we blind to where our country was going?

The Women’s March was not a mistake. What can women do but march in the face of a movement seemingly aimed at returning to a time when white men ruled without challenge?

We, women with experience and with all of our varied perspectives, need to continue to step up. How can we make our voices heard? What can we do to support the women who are our daughters, and the men who are our sons, as they lead our country into the future? We may each have different opinions and support different policy specifics, but that does not splinter us. We talk to each other. Our country needs us.