The Woman's March on Washington, Our Experiences, Impressions and Lessons Learned: Told from Beginning to Beginning

A group of Scarsdale women (and alumni!) joined the grassroots Women's March on Washington last Saturday to show our solidarity and resistance to Donald Trump's polarizing policies and behavior. According to organizers, attendees reached record numbers across the globe with over half million in DC alone. Eight of us wove together our individual and collective experiences using the Continuing Story Form to create a virtual tapestry of this exhilarating experience.

As we boarded Amtrak and were joined by hundreds of women with pink pussy hats the excitement began. PUSSY... We bristled, but it was quickly the new normal! Strangers became friends and our conversation bounced from topic to topic, covering tips on marching; locations of the port a potties and what to do if we could not find one -- including the passing around of Depends (who would of thought!), advice on how to handle pepper spray, writing our contact information on our arms with a Sharpie (it ran like a tattoo gone terribly wrong); designating meeting spots if we got separated; what Melania would wear; and what our protest signs would say. It wasn't all fluff, we also talked about healthcare and what it means to be a feminist in 2017. What a way to start, first I thought Dayenu (this would be enough), but I soon realized that the ride was only the first step in this unbelievable experience. (AS)

As we approached the Mall, we were unsure of what awaited us. Would we be able to get near the speakers? Would there be violence? Would we be safe? And top of mind—where do we go to the bathroom? But upon arrival our fears were allayed (except for the bathroom part). There were men (never even thought to invite our husbands), women of all ages with their daughters, mothers , fathers, grandmothers, children; even babies. It felt right standing there among like-minded people, focused on a common good, doing their part to make the world a better, more equal place. (SD)
It was a sea of pink. Surrounded by strangers, yet feeling as if we were old friends. We listened to speaker after speaker, holding on to each word, realizing that this is and should be only the beginning of a movement. We all realized that we must be change agents. My only regret was that my children were not with me. (DL)

We were struck by the number and diversity of the speakers ----from veteran feminists like Gloria Steinem and Angela Davis (blasts from my past), to the Circle of Mothers, activists like Michael Moore and Van Jones, celebrities like Janelle Monae, America Ferera, Scarlett Johansson, Ashley Judd and Madonna, politicians -Kristin Gillibrand, Kamala Harris, Tammy Duckworth, and Maxine Waters and many, many lesser known (at least to me) women speaking of their differences (whether Muslim, African American, LGBTQ, disabled, undocumented), their struggles and their hopes and dreams for a fairer world. After three hours of standing and listening, my family (children SHS graduates, sister and niece) and I grew restless, wanting to be literally on the march. However, we agreed that the speakers embodied our cause- just, honorable, diverse, colorful, witty, creative and compassionate. The Resistance Is Strong!! (MF)

Fellow marchers were in their creative groove. Posters with sayings like "OMG GOP WTF?," "You Can't Comb Over Bigotry," "Free Melania," and "Pussy Grabs Back," are just of a few of the ones that caught my attention and made me pause. During the march, our Scarsdale group began singing protest songs from the 60's including Blowing in the Wind, We Shall Overcome, Imagine, and Give Peace a Chance. But, Woody Guthrie's This Land is Your Land, became our theme. Fellow marchers, who came from other parts of the country and from diverse backgrounds, enthusiastically joined in. We represented the fabric of America: Muslim, Black, White and Asian; men, women and children. It was magical and we felt that we had the power to move things forward. (SE)

When the march was over, I was amazed at how long we'd been in the cold without realizing it . There was a sense of togetherness and love toward my fellow sisters. It was the best and most significant rally that I ever actually witnessed "LIVE". It felt like a journey on the way to meet the Wizard of Oz -- stopping to make conversations among perfect strangers, making new friends, while walking in forward motion -- feeling a sense of togetherness, joy, sisterhood and human empathy. We have our work cut out...but at least we know, we're not alone...and we've already started to make a difference. (DM)

What an extraordinary, powerful, exhilarating day! And, it is abundantly clear that this has to symbolize the beginning of a movement. Our activism didn't end Saturday night. Standing on the Mall that day, we were urged to continue to respond and push back with our words, our actions, and when needed, our wallets. We are the new Tea Party, in a manner of speaking, and I believe that our entire Scarsdale contingent that traveled together are going to play a role. (PN)

I came to DC feeling hopeless and left with a glimmer. He works for us it's true, and WE are the people . As we began to march (or meander because of the enormous throng), we promised each other and those around us that this is just the start of the conversation (though everyone should watch Ashley Judd on YouTube for inspiration). We were reminded that women have the power of the purse and that all of the issues are economic issues. Everywhere we went that day and the next, people were suggesting action plans... call a Congressperson each morning, get involved with Indivisible, a grass roots organization that is modeled on the Tea Party, volunteer, focus on making small inroads. And remember that climate change, equal pay, health care, parental leave (to name a few) are not female issues. We need to bring our sons and husbands and partners and fathers into this conversation. (AD)

Many want us to believe that this march is too little, too late – and that we are powerless. But this is far from reality. The march got us on the road... now the work for change begins! Dayenu!

Anna Decker
Shelley Diamond Effman
Suzi Eisman
Martha Flanders
Debbie Eisenberg Lever
Priscilla Natkins
Danielle Menache
Andrea Seiden