Justice

Powerful Signs From the Women's March Speak to Important Issues

January 21st 2017

On Saturday, one day after the inauguration of President Donald Trump, women and their allies across the world marched in solidarity with thousands of protesters that descended on Washington D.C. to fight for a progressive vision. And the turn out was huge: Some estimates put the total number of global participants at approximately 2.5 million people, who carried signs, props, and let their voices be heard.

Like the march’s official platform, which ATTN: has previously reported on, participating protesters championed many causes during the March on Washington and its global sister demonstrations. Some protesters carried signs that touched on issues such as environmentalism, speaking to the fear that the newly-arrived president isn't too keen on taking climate change seriously, especially with his threats to pull out of the Paris Trade Agreement and plans for environmental deregulation.

Other signs pointed to the need to fund Planned Parenthood, which Trump is working to remove federal funding from, and remain in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter Movement, which the Trump-Pence administration has threatened by declaring themselves a "law and order" administration, which has been interpreted as standing by law enforcement no matter what their actions are.

The issue of healthcare, which is paramount for reproductive justice and bodily autonomy, came up in signs that referenced it as a human right and alluded to the Affordable Care Act. Since taking office, President Trump has already signed an executive order to weaken the landmark piece of legislation, an action in line with his promises to work to dismantle the policy. This would in effect take away health insurance for many Americans while spiking the costs of their prescription drugs, among other dramatic changes.

Media outlets, in addition to the D.C. Metro system, immediately pointed out that the Women’s March on Washington far exceeded the attendance of President Trump’s inauguration, without even factoring in the sister marches. Many think that the mass action will be the beginning of a movement to fight against the administration’s policies.

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