Portraits From the Women’s Wave

“I support intersectionality. I believe that feminism is often misinterpreted as something that’s solely for women. We are here for everyone. We’re here for men. We’re actually here for women, the elderly, the young, and everyone in our community and our society,” asserts Nguyen. “I think through constructive criticism we have gotten better and have addressed the issue of being intersectional.”

–Dung Nguyen, Hawaii

“It’s about equal rights and [the fact that] women having the same rights doesn’t mean men have less rights.”

–Allison (right), Virginia

”It is really nice to be out here and feel the solidarity,” says a Women’s March volunteer who did not wish to be identified before commenting on recent altercations within the movement regarding antisemitism accusations. “What we are trying to do in general is have a big tent. And within a big tent you should include diverse views. I happen to be Jewish and I have noticed that accusations of antisemitism have been used as a wedge to try to divide groups that have had an impact in the past. I personally won’t allow Jews to be a pawn in a movement that is having an impact.”

–Women’s March volunteer, Maryland

“We are all bringing chairs to the table. Shirley Chisholm said ‘bring a folding chair,’ but we are not bringing just folding chairs. We are bringing comfortable chairs that are not going to go anywhere,” O’Brien says, gesturing to the art installation by Alessandra Mondolfi carried by volunteers unified through Facebook. “Also, we have our intersectional couch. On our intersectional feminism couch, we’re all together and we are just not going anywhere.”

–Brenna O’Brien, Illinois

“As a woman, I don’t feel safe in a country where a president calls someone a nasty woman, makes comments like grabbing pussies or acts like a 5-year-old.”

–Sheral Patel (second to the right), Virginia

”[Trump] represents a wall between people. He’s creating it, he’s maintaining it and he has no empathy,” remarks August, before she introduces her newfound friends. “These are my friends I picked up in the parade. They are from Bolivia and I believe living in Vienna, [Maryland]. She’s learning English, and the girls, they go to school here.”

–Jennifer August, Delaware

“I think that all sides should share their perspectives. We have events such as these to come together and voice our opinion in a civilized manner but a spirited one. I think that is essential and it has been beautifully executed today.”

–Grace Xia, Maryland

”It’s more the [Supreme Court Justice Brett] Kavanaugh situation that got us really pissed. Like that sign says, we are more pissed this year than we were last year,” says veteran marcher Schirtz. “For me, the #MeToo movement and that thing [the Kavanaugh appointment] hit home and it reminded me of stuff that happened in the past. It kind of resurfaces, triggers and floods people. I am hoping when those kind of feelings get triggered and flooded, it brings people out to the polls more.”

–Meghan Schirtz, Virginia

“I was considering a way of how I could get involved and honestly, this was just a first step for me,” remarks first-time march-goer Cunningham. ”For me, universal health care is particularly important. Myself, I’m middle class, but that is dwindling, but I am one medical emergency from being displaced.”

–Mia Cunningham, Ohio

“[The Women’s March] calls attention to issues. It motivates people to get involved. I think a lot of people who marched in the past two or three [marches] were not necessarily previously involved [in politics] like they are now,“ remarks Owen. “In fact, I am here with four other family members and we were not involved previously.”

–Jill Owen, Arizona

“I believe that if you disagree with what’s happening, it’s also important to make sure that you’re showing up and making your voice heard.”

–Rishon Seaborn, Washington, D.C.