On Saturday the 20th and Sunday 21st January, hundreds of thousands of women around America and the world took to the streets for the 2018 Women’s March. The date signals a year since the first event of it’s kind was held in opposition to newly elected US President Donald Trump.
Demonstrators across American states were supported by parallel rallies in Europe, Asia and Africa, signalling a global demonstration against Trump’s administration. It served as a political rally, with Democratic elected officials and liberal celebrities using their power to urge attendance at the marches. They called on people to channel their energy and frustration against the current government into a global movement, a symbol of defiance to this regime.
The march organiser’s main aim was to empower the voices of power against Trump, who is now seen as a symbol of the anti-feminist movement. They wanted to register a million new voters and get more strong advocates for women’s rights into office.
Image Credit: CNN.com
Following last year’s marches, record numbers of women have put themselves forward to run in US elections this year, illustrating the power of these events to inspire change. The slogan of the march was ‘Look Back, March Forward’, illustrating the need for a reflection on the events of the past year but also for a renewed hope for the future.
The march comes at a time of increasing campaigning for women’s rights, paralleled by the #MeToo and ‘Time’s Up’ movements seen at the beginning of this year. Perhaps the march signals a change in attitudes, as the response of shock and anger about Trump’s regime turns into a powerful force for good, a defiant stance against the repetition of his election.