Phoenix Women’s March influence reaches students

“Love, not hate, makes America great.”

This was the mantra of thousands on Jan. 21, as protesters flooded the streets in solidarity with women’s rights, reproductive rights, and various other platforms around the world.

“I stood up on a bench at the beginning and I immediately got chills because there were people as far as I could see,” said junior Hannah Ginn, who attended the Phoenix Women’s March at the Arizona State Capitol.

With over two million protesters globally, the march in Phoenix was just another outset of the main event in Washington, D.C., where a Perry school trip attended the main march there.

The Women’s March, started by Teresa Shook in Hawaii, began as a Facebook page calling for a march on Washington after the inauguration of President Donald Trump.

Through social media and the diligence of an army of women, the event continued to spawn mini-marches across the country, with over 36,000 people attending the one in Phoenix.

With an unarguable division in politics currently, men and women marched to air their discontent with proposed legislation and protection of rights under a new administration.

“The purpose of the march was to demonstrate that there are millions of people who are willing to fight for their rights, and I hope that the president and Congress will consider this when making changes to the country,” said Ginn.

Although arrests were made in response to the few violent outbursts by protesters, no arrests were reported by Arizona law enforcement, and a true peaceful protest spread across the Valley.

“The crowd had a general feeling of hope, as well as unity,” said Ginn. “Everyone was there to come together and prove that there was hope for the future of our country.”

Notable speakers at the march included Representative Athena Salman, House Minority Leader Rebecca Ríos and Planned Parenthood’s Jodi Liggett.

“Seeing thousands of people march for the rights of women, the LGBTQ+ community, immigrants, and other minorities was inspiring,” said Ginn. “There are millions of people across the country who are defending what they believe in and trying to incite change, and I’m proud to be one of them.”