ONE YEAR ON

A Look Back to the 2017 Women's March

January 22, 2018

On January 20, 2017, Donald J. Trump was elected the 45th President of the United States. On January 21, 2017, more than 5 million people gathered worldwide, 4 million in cities across the United States, for the inaugural Women’s March. Some had a specific issue to champion. Many were dissatisfied by the policies and rhetoric of the newly elected president. Most were there to express solidarity. Yet every marcher, across every city, understood the disastrous human consequences of policy choices that do not respect the dignity and basic rights of every human being.

As the government shutdown Saturday morning at 12:00am on January 20, 2018, millions of people were sleeping soundly, preparing to march later that day in the anniversary Women’s March. Millions again declared that they will not support a government that does not believe diversity is worth celebrating, and that they will not stand for a government that openly disrespects and disdains individuals regardless of their background. It seemed fitting that the march occurred as the government was shutting down over its refusal to guarantee the rights of millions of DACA recipients the right to stay in the only country they have ever known.

Hopefully the President and his Administration will support a bill similar to the bipartisan effort put forth by Senators Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, and Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina. The bill was cosponsored by three other Democratic Senators and five additional Republican Senators, including Senators Michael Bennet (D) and Corey Gardner (R), both of Colorado. You can read more about the bill here.

One year later, people seem just as energized as the day after watching President Trump take office. More people are saying louder and louder that the United States is at its best when it is not isolationist, but inclusive, compassionate, diverse, and united.       

Below is a collection of the voices from the 2017, Denver Women’s March.