- Nic F. Anderson
Women's March on Chicago
Photo by Nicole F. Anderson
An estimated 250,000 people gathered in Chicago, Illinois for the Women’s March on January 21st, making it one of the largest marches outside of the Washington, D.C. march. The Women’s March on Chicago organizers said on their website that the mission of the march is to “Connect, protect, and activate. We connect to support each other in protecting and furthering women’s rights and civil liberties. We activate in our communities to uphold and strengthen values, rights, and humanity”.
Beginning at Jackson and Columbus at 10 am, the Women’s March organizers lead the group of thousands of people throughout the streets of Downtown, Chicago. With signs in hand that read of issues that ranged from pro-choice, surviving trauma, equal pay, protesting Donald Trump’s rhetoric, anti-misogyny, and so on. The crowd chanted, “women’s rights are human rights”, “this is what democracy looks like”, “hey, ho, Donald Trump has got to go”, “No Trump, No KKK, No Fascist USA”, “This is what democracy looks like”, etc.
According to the Chicago Tribune, the Women’s March organizers were telling everyone that it was no longer a march and was instead just a rally because there was not enough room to march. However, people marched anyways; down Michigan Avenue, Jackson, State Street, Wabash, Congress, etc. A police officer standing by the Dunkin’ Donuts on Van Buren and Jackson said into his radio, “They’re marching in the streets now.”
Photo by Nicole F. Anderson. Took photo with permission.
The march was peaceful as thousands flooded the streets and let their voices be heard about topics such as women’s rights, civil rights, LGBTQ rights, immigration injustices, racial injustices, and healthcare.
Photo by Nicole F. Anderson. Took photo with permission.
Brenda, from McNabb, Illinois and her friend, Chris, from Granville, Illinois are from Putnam County, and just happened to be downtown the day of the march. The two women shared that they teared up at the amazing and unbelievable energy that the marchers had. They were happy to see parents with their young children marching. “It was worth seeing. Truly an experience,” Brenda said.
Ellen, from Chicago, Illinois, marched in the parade and donned her pink kitty cat hat. She was surrounded by a group of friends. “I felt pride when I saw how many people showed up…but I also felt renewed outrage that this even has to happen”.