‘Danger’ fear spurs marcher against Trump
NOT SINCE college has Robyn Watts participated in a political march. But with Donald Trump poised to be the next President of the United States, Watts couldn’t stay silent.
“I’m marching for so many reasons,” said Watts, 50, an attorney from Harlem. “But the overarching one is that Donald Trump is dangerous — dangerous for our country and the world.”
Watts will be among the tens of thousands of women traveling to the nation’s capital for the Women’s March on Washington on Jan. 21, the day after Trump’s inauguration.
While many of those participating say they are trying to set an example for their daughters, Watts has a different goal.
She wants to carry the torch for her sons.
“I want them to see me put myself and my beliefs out there when it really matters,” said Watts, a wife and mother of three boys, ages 17, 15 and 11.
“I don’t want them to just live with my disappointment. I want them to see you can do something about it. I want them to see how government works even though you don’t get what we want. It’s not just the voting booth. It’s everything. It’s still being involved and informed.”
That is more than Watts can say about her own three brothers, who, like her, grew up in Michigan.
Watts isn’t certain they voted for Trump, but she’s almost willing to bet her boys’ college tuition on it.
“I left and I came to New York,” Watts said. “I have different values from them. I was deeply reminded of why I left, and the differences.” That happened when Watts wrote on Facebook about her plans to attend the march.
One of her brothers replied to her post that he thought her participation was “disgusting.”
She said it sounded like something Trump would say.
“There are so many things he said and did during the election that were in opposition to our values and in opposition to our Constitution,” Watts said.
“Why do I think some people voted for Trump? I think in my own family, people do not like Obama or do not like Clinton. And some of those reasons are racist and sexist and xenophobic.”