Women from Chattanooga are buying bus tickets and lacing up their sneakers in preparation for a march on Washington, DC. They are joining in a national grassroots effort to protest for equality the day after the Presidential inauguration. They hope to have a large enough presence to send their message to the government: that women’s rights are human rights.
The march will take place the day after the Presidential inauguration, January 21st, near the Capitol Building. Everyone is invited, regardless of gender or gender identity.
Among those strategizing on the fourth floor of the public library was Roxie Golden, a self-proclaimed child of the 1960’s.
"There is no equality. I think they have tried to put us in our place and it’s time to find a new place,” she said. "Women could rule the world, did you know that? There is more of us than there are of men. So why don't we?"
"We can't just approach this as a one-day anti-Trump march. This really has to be a wakeup call of social activism, of this opportunity to make changes," said Lisa Bellino, the Women’s March on Washington communication specialist for Tennessee. "We truly do have a lot of work to do to make America great."
The participants don’t want the march to be just a one-day event. They hope to carry the momentum back home and create permanent change- among other things, getting women elected into office.
The Women’s March on Washington is expected to be the biggest inauguration demonstration, according to organizers. They are expecting at least 200,000 people to participate. A full charter bus is going from Chattanooga and individuals are arranging carpools.
Jean Bryant, a lifelong Republican from Dunlap, Tennessee is a first time protester.
“We are tired of being treated as second-class human beings. And the thing is, I think it makes us relate to other people who have been discriminated against all of these years. Everybody is equal. It doesn't matter what race you are, what religion you are, what your sex is, what your sexual orientation is. It shouldn't matter. I hope it will open up people's eyes.”
People who can't travel to DC can also participate. Sister marches will be held all over the country- in over 150 cities. Chattanooga will have a march at Renaissance Park from 3-6 pm.
