Women’s March on Washington

By Julianna Bonnett

Many Windsorites joined the Women’s March on Washington.

On Jan. 21, close to two million people marched in cities around the world for the Women’s March.  Michelle Mainwaring and Anne Elizabeth Rudzinski were two of the 50 local men and women who boarded a bus and headed to Washington D.C. to join thousands of others for the main event.

“It was an amazing experience,” said Mainwaring, a performer and freelance actor. “I went into this not knowing what I would gain and came home with a wealth of experiences. I gained a greater sense of community having shared so many hours with like minded women who openly sharing their personal stories. I also gained a much deeper respect for our American friends, seeing their commitment to this cause and being the recipient of their gratitude.”

Anne Elizabeth Rudzinski is a student at the University of Windsor and said the purpose of the march was to demonstrate solidarity.

“We wanted to demonstrate solidarity between women and to stand up for issues related to gender inequality. It is important to have organized demonstrations of dissent when rights are being taken away,” said Rudzinski.

According to The Windsor Star, some Canadians found the Women’s March to be unnecessary because there are other things to focus on in the country such as the increase in property tax and carbon tax.

“The march was 10 per cent for women’s rights and 90 per cent against Trump,” said Robert Anthony, 21, a business student at St. Clair College.  ”I am sad that the organizers of this event did not use this platform to bring change for the women around the world who are truly, truly hurting rather than an anti-Trump message with speakers such as Madonna aggressively highlighted.”

According to the Washington Post, the Women’s March is the largest day of protest in U.S history, though other individual marches have exceeded the tally.