Women came out in the millions around the world and in the U.S. on Saturday to stand united for the equality and reproductive rights of women in America.
The Women’s March started as a response to now President Donald Trump’s stated agenda to cut funding to Planned Parenthood, which supplies reproductive health services to women including birth control, abortion resources and STI (Sexually Transmitted Infections) testing.
“The Trump Administration, as it stands, does not reflect the citizens of our city, state, and nation. Women and people of color are underrepresented in the administration that will ultimately dictate policies that will adversely impact our quality of life,” said City Council Member Laurie Cumbo (Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, Crown Heights), Chair of the Committee on Women’s Issues.
The official march took place in Washington, D.C. just one day after the inauguration of the 45th president. Hundreds of thousands of women, men and children flocked to the nation’s capital to take a stand against the offensive remarks Trump made during his presidential campaign, in which he attacked Republican presidential candidate Carly Fiorina and former Fox Host Megyn Kelly, including making sexual assault jokes during a hot mic incident with Billy Bush during an Access Hollywood interview, according to the New York Times.
“Regardless of which party is in charge, this is our government, it should always be made clear that we intend to protect the rights of all our citizens. Many of your fellow Americans, both men and women, came to Washington in support of our women. The event was very peaceful, often funny, and at times had a vulgarity which rises to the level of our current political reality.I went on behalf of my mother, my 2-month-old niece, grandmother, aunts, cousins, friends, and community members. If you have any of these, or perhaps a daughter, you can understand our cause,” said Josue Pierre, Democratic State Committeeman and Male District Leader, who attended the event in D.C.
“It is important that people of all backgrounds begin to see women’s issues as human rights issues. Throughout the 2016 presidential campaign, there were several issues that were brought to the forefront on a national platform. We must continue to engage in community conversations, advocate, and pass legislation to advance pay equity, increase access to equitable education, expand paid family leave, and end rape culture, domestic or intimate partner violence,” said Cumbo.
Many Brooklynites attended the event including G. Augustine Lynas, a former professor at Pratt Institute, who attended a rally even though he could barely stand due to a recent surgery, but who wanted to make sure he was fighting for all the women in his family. “To support all women, especially the women in my family. I love women and I think they should be respected and treated equally.”
Attendees at the event wore pink hats as a symbol of solidarity. Many put them on their children and husbands to show a united front against any policies that might limit women’s rights. Pink is a color used during the month of October which is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month, that highlights women’s health issues.
Another set of Brooklynites at the event were, Robert and his granddaughter, Evelyn, whose mother was at the march in Washington, to fight for both of their rights. Robert wants to make sure that all women know they have a place to voice their opinions and exercise their rights. “We feel that young women should like they have a voice,” said Robert.
Another Brooklyn resident who made sure to make it to the event early was Debra Timothy, “I’m here basically for women’s rights, I feel that women have been under the attack and I’m here to support women’s rights. I have been here since 8am this morning.”
Brooklynite Adam Gerstein said he marched for all women to have access to women’s healthcare services which he feels are lacking at the moment. “I feel really strongly about women’s rights to choose, the right to what they want to do with their bodies.We need to be out in the streets, we need to protest. And we need to do it on a consistent basis. Planned Parenthood is a really big issue. I was down in Texas and Planned Parenthood funding has been taken away, there’s only two clinics in the entire state of Texas. Women’s healthcare is a necessity and a right. People don’t talk about access enough, it is not accessible and it will be less accessible with this administration”.
The protests took place as Trump is in his first official week as President is already working on legislation to repeal ObamaCare, known as the Affordable Care Act and cut federal funding to Planned Parenthood.
“The preliminary steps undertaken by House Republicans to repeal the Affordable Care Act after several attempts during the Obama Administration were anticipated. It is disheartening that millions of New Yorkers may lose access to quality healthcare due to partisan politics. It is unfortunate, but it appears that the real issue with Obama Care lies within the name,” said Cumbo.
