Four Benders and a Greyhound: Women's March on Washington

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This weekend was the historic Women's March in Washington, D.C. Here's the Wikipedia write up describing the march:

The Women's March was a worldwide protest on January 21, 2017, to protect women's rights and other causes including immigration reform, health care reform, protection of the natural environment, LGBTQ rights, racial justice, freedom of religion, and workers' rights. The rallies were aimed at Donald Trump, the recently inaugurated President of the United States. The first protest was planned in Washington, D.C., and was known as the Women's March on Washington. It was organized as a grassroots movement and took place on the day after Trump's inauguration on January 20. It aimed to "send a bold message to our new administration on their first day in office, and to the world that women's rights are human rights." More than three times as many people attended the protests in Washington, D.C., as attended the Trump inauguration itself. The march drew at least half a million in Washington, and some estimates put worldwide participation at 4.8 million,according to WomensMarch.com on January 23, 2017. At least 408 marches were planned in the U.S. and 168 in 81other countries. After the march, officials behind the organization reported 673 marches took place worldwide, including 29 in Canada and 20 in Mexico. In the United States, the protests were the largest political demonstrations since the anti-Vietnam War protests in the 1960s and 1970s. The Women's March crowds were generally peaceful. For example, in Washington, D.C., Chicago, Los Angeles (where, according to organizers, 750,000 people marched),New York, and Seattle, where an estimated combined total of 2 million people marched, no arrests were made.

Here are some arial shots of the event:

Inauguration (left) vs. Women's March (right)

Mama was at the Washington, D.C. march with her co-workers! It was a really special experience, and was incredibly moving and freeing to be there with so many strong people who all felt the same way that mama and daddy feel. It made Friday a little less painful. We really hope that we can continue to express our objection to everything that is going on in the White House and Congress right now. Maybe by the time you are old enough to know what is happening, things will return to a state of intelligence, equality, acceptance, and peace.

I wish you would have been there with me, but you were sick and mama wasn't sure how crazy the march might be. There were lots of small kids and babies there though, and I know one day you'll get to attend with me! I got you your own pink hat to keep, and some fun buttons for the future!

Almost all of the women that mama is friends with, marched on Saturday. Many men who are allies to women, joined the march too. Your Aunt Stephanie marched in Greensboro, and mama knows women who marched in over 10 cities all over the country!

Here are some of my best photos from the event in Washington, D.C.: