The Women’s March on Washington was originally just one person with an idea. The idea that in order for human rights to continue being equal and make women’s voice heard, a march should occur. This event rapidly caught the attraction of people, mostly women, all over the country. All over the world approximately 4 million people marched on Saturday, January 21 to speak out on the attack women’s rights have faced and continue to face. That one idea turned into over 500,000 (almost triple the amount of people who went to the inauguration) daughters, sisters, sons, fathers, and mothers coming together in DC alone to speak out on their rights in light of the recent election. This event resulted in the second most metro trips in one day, only second to Barack Obama’s inauguration in 2009 with 1.1 million. Many Oakton students and teachers participated in this post-inauguration march for many different reasons. However the one reason that united everyone was to defend human rights and to honor the previous champions of human rights, justice, and equality.

Mr. John Krizel, an Oakton history teacher, participated in the march along with several of his friends. “I, like everyone, am concerned about the new administration so in a sense it was kind of a response to that. I like the message of it, I like that it was trying to be inclusive of all women and people who felt threatend by this administration and I knew a lot of friends going. I’m very passionate about political things and I’ve lived in DC for a long time so it was kind of a no-brainer to go,” said Mr. Krizel. Mr. Krizel has been a resident of DC for a while now since moving from New York and felt a great responsibility in marching in his city. With the march getting so much publicity, people were very worried about who would show up, what they would feel, and how they would express that. “The march was very positive and I didn’t know it was going to be like that. I knew there were going to be a lot of people who are angry and there were certainly but the energy at the march was so positive and everyone was kind of on the same page and super respectful of each other and I even read that there were over half a million people there with no arrests. Everyone was very positive for sure,” said Mr. Krizel.

Many young people and teenagers were also a big voice at the march. Anna Goodin(11) and Madison Phipps(11) went to the march together along with Goodin’s mom and friend. “ I marched because I think it’s absolutely insane that so many women in this country and others are essentially pushed over or trampled on. The right to assemble is constitutional, and I can honestly say that I marched because I am scared of where the government will take us if we don’t voice our opinions and fight for our rights,” said Goodin. Phipps had her own reasons to march as well. “I marched to contribute to a cause that means a lot to me, including my right to marry
whoever I want and my right to a safe and legal abortion as well as other important rights that I believe President Trump and his cabinet are trying to take away. I also marched because I couldn’t contribute with a vote as I am too young,” said Phipps. While at the march they saw many signs that either inspired them or made them laugh at the current situation going on with the country.

No matter what their political views are, all 500,000 people came together in DC to make their voice be heard whether it be women’s reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ rights, environmental issues, and so many more issues affecting minorities.