March is sign of the times
Voices of protest ring at second annual Women’s March
PROVIDENCE — “The future is female.”
That was the message that North Kingstown resident Miki Contrada emphasized as she, along with thousands of others, held posters and signs and descended upon the Statehouse lawn as part of the second annual Women’s March.
This year’s Women’s March served not only as an anniversary of the march last January, in which millions around the country protested the inauguration of President Donald J. Trump, but also as an acknowledgment that there’s still much to be done to bring about true equality. Also, in the wake of the various allegations of sexual harassment around the nation, the march felt even more timely.
Contrada and her friend Rhonda Chadwick of North Providence were both seated on the marble steps of the Statehouse moments before Saturday afternoon’s speaking program began.
“I’m pissed off,” Contrada said. “It’s a disgrace that we’re still fighting for our rights that are being ripped away.”
Chadwick added: “I see this movement as the beginning of the third wave.” The first wave of feminism came in the early 1900s and was focused on women’s suffrage, while the second wave started in the 1960s with an eye toward reducing inequalities in the workplace and focusing on reproductive rights.
With Women’s Marches taking place in Providence, Boston, Hartford, and communities across the United States and internationally, Contrada said that “people are listening.” But what could really change things, she said, is electing more women, saying “the future is female.”
“With more female elected officials
than ever, that changes policy and demeanor,” Contrada said.
Cumberland’s Marie Picchi said she was present at Saturday’s protest because she was astonished and ashamed of the Trump administration. She alleged the president and members of his administration don’t “give a s**t” about the rights of women, immigrants, or poor and underserved communities.
“It’s disgusting the way the government portrays the United States around the world,” Picchi said.
Saturday was her first time participating in a Women’s March, but as Picchi looked over the gathering crowd on the Statehouse lawn, she said it was “awesome.” That said, she felt more people should have been in attendance to truly emphasize the importance of women’s rights.
“We’ve come too far in society to have our rights taken away,” Picchi said, as she added that if there was an even larger turnout, it would show how seriously the state is taking the issue.
“We need to continue to stay united in our beliefs and dreams,” she added, saying one primary issue that she’ll fight for is to ensure that “Dreamers” are protected from potential deportation.
The sweatshirt that Cranston’s Julia Hansen wore on Saturday emphasized, albeit with some colorful language, exactly why she was at the State House. The crimson hoodie was donned with white letters that said: “I can’t believe we still have to protest this s**t,” although the four-letter word at the end was not censored.
“I strongly oppose Donald Trump and everything he stands for,” Hansen said. “I feel women still have a long way to go with rights and I feel it’s important that we speak out.”
Hansen said to see the outpouring of support in both 2017 and 2018 was “phenomenal.” And while there were plenty of boys and girls in attendance at Saturday’s rally, Hansen said there’s still much work to be done to ensure that things are better for generations to come and that the hard-earned rights of women over history continue.
“Voting is the most important thing. If people educated themselves before the (2016) election and voted, there would be a much different turnout...” she said. “It’s super important. Voting, voting, voting, you have to vote.”
Sandra Cano, a Pawtucket resident and at-large city councilor in Pawtucket, said that she was not in the area for last January’s march through Providence, but noted that she was not going to miss this year’s edition.
A self-described advocate for women’s rights, Cano said that seeing thousands of women from all over Rhode Island descend upon Providence to stand for what they believed in “really sends a message of unity.”
“The time is now … and we need to continue advocating for women’s rights as human rights,” Cano said. “And I’m very excited women are getting together to advocate for what’s right.”
“Because of what’s happening at the local level but also at the national level, I think it’s great when we show with civic engagement a powerful message of unity,” Cano continued. “It’s great to see women that not only have fought for us before, but young women who are looking to speak up for what is right. All of us together saying the time is now.”
“Women’s rights are human rights and we need to continue uniting to speak up for what’s right,” Cano added.