Related: Political Issues, Politics, Social Issues, Social Justice Issues, Trinity Alumnae, Women, Women's Leadership

Voices of Trinity: Women’s March on Washington

 
 

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Nearly 600 Trinity Alumnae have participated in our Trinity Straw Poll on the Presidential Inauguration.  174 alumnae have indicated that they intent to take part in the Women’s March on Washington on Saturday, January 21, either in Washington or in cities and towns across the country and around the world.  A number of Trinity students, faculty and staff will also participate in the Women’s March.  The reasons for participation vary, as indicated in the comments below.  Of course, not everyone agrees with the idea of the Women’s March or the perceived agenda, and samples of those comments also appear below:

A student writes:  “I will participate in the Women’s March because I believe it my duty to let the new President know that we will not surrender our rights.”

Another student writes: “I am a strong black women and think we should all be present at the march.”

A staff member writes: ” My focus is to send the message that women shouldn’t be considered 2nd class citizens in our society.”

A faculty member writes:  “Bigotry and oppression never retreat except in the face of resistance. today, the Political Right is mounting concerted attacks on every scrap of progress won through mass struggle over the past 75 years and more, from womens’ rights, civil rights, and workers’ rights to health care and environmental protection. It is time for everyone who can to hit the streets.”

An alumna of the 1960’s writes:  “Although I cannot attend the Women’s March, it is exciting that it will take place and that there will be hundreds of marches around the country and the world. This is an important event, a historic event. Women’s rights are threatened not only in the United States with the new administration but also worldwide.”

From an alumna of the 1970’s:  “The March is a strong visual statement to let Trump, Congress and the nation know that we are dedicated to moving forward, not backward, in this country. We are not going to stand by in silence and allow civil liberties to be attacked or denied to any citizen, or permit the progress we have made on so many fronts (women’s/equal rights, the environment, health care, extension of voting rights among many others) to be rolled back or taken away. Women’s rights are human rights. My responsibility to stand up and be counted goes beyond just this March. I have been taking an active role in communicating with my Senators and Representative on issues of importance to me, donating to organizations such as the ACLU and Planned Parenthood, and subscribing to several “main stream” newspapers to support a free press.”

A graduate of the 1980’s writes:  “I will be there with my wife, my son, my sisters, my sisters in law, my nieces and dear friends. We are marching out of respect for all that we hold dear about our great nation. We are living through very dark times. I will be marching in solidarity with those who seek to find and be a candle shining in the darkness.”

From another alumna of the 1970’s:  “I marched in 1973 against the Nixon inauguration and the Vietnam war. I am upset and actually very concerned about the current election and think I must also march this time instead of wringing my hands and yelling at the TV. Must make some action and statement now, especially in solidarity with women and all minorities. This will bookend my professional life–at the start of my career (was working on the Hill in 1973 while a senior at Trinity), and now in the end years of my career in international affairs…”

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Certainly, there are those who disagree with the Women’s March and have some strong views:

This alumna from the 1950’s:  “I think this is a disgrace to the female gender that so many -mostly left wing liberals-think they are accomplishing anything to band together as if they are teens in a sorority/club to make noise about their disappointment that Hillary did not make the cut for President. She did not deserve it therefore was not elected. Now we have to watch these pathetic marchers who have no message other than anger that their candidate and party lost.”

From an alum of the 1960’s:  “It is sponsored by Planned Parenthood, the largest provider of abortions in the world. You could NOT pay me enough to be part of this “Women’s March.” I would like the participants to speak to women who have bought the lie of PP and now, as I was told by one post-abortion woman years ago, “live with overwhelming grief.” The toll of unborn babies killed by abortion in the US since Roe v. Wade is almost 60,000,000 – that’s 60 million dead babies and wounded mothers.”

From an alumna of the 1980’s:  “As a Catholic women I am pro-life and 53% of white women voted for the Trump platform that included putting Americans back to work and protecting our country from criminals who are in our country illegally. Therefore I believe the “Women’s March” is an attempt by the left minority to display the pro-death agenda that portrays promiscuity as a freedom instead of a destructive slavery to sin.”

An alumna from the 1990’s writes:  “I disagree with the purpose of the women’s march. I voted for Trump and fully support his political beliefs in most of his areas.”

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NEXT:  More reflections on the inauguration and the Women’s March

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Patricia A. McGuire, President, Trinity, 125 Michigan Ave. NE, Washington, DC 20017
Phone: 202.884.9050   Email: president@trinitydc.edu