HEAR THEM ROAR
Women’s marches jam cities around the world
ANASTASIA SHAWBACK boarded a 5:30 a.m. bus Friday, riding 22 hours from Illinois to join the Women’s March on Washington against newly-installed President Trump.
She arrived to find a half-million kindred souls packing the streets of the nation’s capital, a loud, proud and unrelenting multitude eager to vent their disgust for Trump.
“Women’s rights, health care, the nation ... It’s important to stand up for everything we still believe in,” said Shawback, 30, of Bloomington, Ill. “My biggest concern is he’s putting people in place who don’t know what they’re doing.”
She was joined by hundreds of thousands of women from across the nation, of all ages and races and jobs and religions: Union workers and retirees, Army veterans and artists, ER nurses and college students, Madonna and Cher.
The massive rally, with double the 250,000 attendees at Trump’s Friday inaugural, packed the route of a planned march on the White House so densely that there was no room to stage the walk.
Not that it seemed to matter as a new generation of protesters locked arms with veterans, united by their animus for Trump.
“It’s just so hard to see this person in the White House that you didn’t want to see,” said Sophia Feinerman, 16, of Chicago. “I’m just so disappointed that we have someone in the White House who doesn’t respect, among other things, women’s issues.”
Voicing similar concerns just a few feet away stood Holly Enos, 72, of Washington.
“This nation is in crisis,” said Enos. “I've not seen anything like it. In times like this we need to make our voices heard.”
Many in the crowd wore their “p---yhats” — knit caps with cat ears — as they gathered in the nation’s capital hours before the 1 p.m. start of the massive march.
Artist Kristin Reed of Park Slope, Brooklyn, stood with a group of ladies holding laminated placards depicting notable American women, including Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Michelle Obama.
“I want it known that there are a lot of us and we are a powerful force,” said Reed. “And invincible, and they cannot roll over us.”
An assortment of Trump-bashing celebrities pumped up the crowd during a daylong rally, with veteran rabble-rouser Michael Moore and Madonna speaking along with actresses Ashley Judd, America Ferrera and Scarlett Johanson.
“I respect that you are our President and I want to support you, but first I ask that you support me,” Johansson said in opposing a proposed federal defunding of Planned Parenthood. “Support my daughter, who because of your choices may grow up in a country that’s moving backwards, not forward.”
The demonstration wasn’t limited to Washington or women: more than 600 “sister marches” were slated for around the nation and the globe, while many men joined in the protests.
“This is an outpouring of energy and democracy like I have never seen in my very long life,” said 82-year-old feminist icon Gloria Steinem.
Anne Nakamura, an emergency room nurse from Brunswick, Maine, shared Steinem’s feeling of wonder.
“This is fabulous,” said the 58-year-old Nakamura. “I am overwhelmed with the show of solidarity, by the sharing of love for human rights, by the kindness. This is peace.”
Police in Los Angeles estimated a crowd of 500,000 as well at their march for women’s rights. The Chicago march was canceled after a larger than expected crowd of more than 150,000. Globally, there were demonstrations in Paris, London and Mexico City.
But the main event was in Washington, D.C., where Trump caught a glimpse of the outpouring against him from his motorcade. The roar of the crowd was audible from the White House.
The thrice-married Trump, during his presidential campaign, was accused of making crude sexual comments about women and groping a dozen women. He also insulted fellow candidate Carly Fiorina’s looks.
Four of Trump’s accusers were in Washington for the protest march.
“I am marching today because it is important to show others who have been bullied that you can have the courage to stand up to bullies and to people who are in power,” said Summer Zervos, a former contestant on “The Apprentice.”
Judd, reading a message from a 19-year-old woman who couldn’t attend, described Trump as “a man who looks like he bathes in Cheeto dust.”
And Moore hailed the “Asheville 9”—a group of nine women who traveled from North Carolina, with eight attending
their first-ever Washington demonstration.
Madonna’s take was more visceral: “Welcome to the revolution ... to our refusal as women to accept this new age of tyranny.”
Retiree Susan Sarvay, 66, came down from Portland, Maine, to wave her sign declaring, “Orange is the new whack job.”
Another sign urged Trump to “Keep your tiny hands off my rights.”
Hillary Clinton, vanquished by Trump in November, tweeted a message of support to the marchers.
“Thanks for standing, speaking & marching for our values @womensmarch,” the former secretary of state posted. “Important as ever. I truly believe we’re always Stronger Together.”
The enthusiastic crowd waved signs directed at Trump: “Women won’t back down!” and “Less fear, more love.”
In addition to their complaints about misogyny, the crowd ripped Trump for his policies on abortion, diversity and climate change.
The huge crowds created chaos on Washington’s mass transit system, with long lines for Metro trains.
In New York, organizers of a trip to Washington were forced to turn away 60 would-be unionized protesters after too many people turned up to make the four-hour ride.
“I’m very disappointed,” said Jacqueline Martin, 47, who came with her two kids. “I wanted to go to the White House so Trump could hear me. Trump doesn’t take minorities into account. He’s not for us.”
The members of 1199 SEIU United Health Workers turned out at 5 a.m. to make the trip south. They gathered at the union hall beneath a mural that includes a quote from Frederick Douglass: “If there is no struggle there can be no progress.”
Others fared better. Julia Kirchhoff, 30, traveled to Washington with two busloads of fellow psychoanalysts after leaving New York at 6 a.m.
“I came down here to stand with other women and stand for dignity, respect, science and coherent debate,” she said before offering her take on the Trump psyche.
“He’s not tethered to reality,” she offered. “He’s not grounded in anything he feels loyal to or has respect for. It’s all about him.”