Sisters' March for Solidarity

How cool to see a man who could be a Trump fan with that sign

This past Saturday, I left early to join two of my sisters for breakfast at Perkins. Afterwards we went on to Sharon, Pennsylvania to take part in a Sister’s March there in solidarity with the one being held in Washington D.C. and all over the country and the world. It’s the first one we’d been on since our Viet Nam War Protest March way back in the early sixties.  It was a warm day for January, and the sun was blessing us after a week of clouds and rain.

The fifth woman used my camera to take the picture.

My sister Elaine had made three poster board signs – one for each of us. We arrived early and parked in a large parking lot across from the small park where we were to meet. Some people were already in the park and others were standing around their cars. We joined some of those in the parking lot and chatted away and got acquainted asking where they came from without asking for names. 

Everybody was excited,

and enjoyed others who have the same beliefs and goals. I visited with five women, and we got a little more acquainted mostly because one

had this adorable little black poodle. Of course, then I had to show  pictures of my collie Maggie, and that led to the fact that I wrote mysteries, and they all wanted my website so I gave them each a bookmark of my first book. One never knows when one will find a follower of their series. Hopefully, at least one of them will.

Suzanne and Elaine. The middle sign was mine.

Gradually the people in the parking lot started heading for the little park where we were all to meet, and my sisters Elaine, Suzanne and I joined them, each holding a sign Elaine made. How exciting that was to join the crowd of people from different areas around that small town. Everyone was smiling, friendly, taking pictures of different signs, and it was so cool to see quite a few men participating, too. There was music, speeches and a TV station taking a video, which I found out was on Channel 27 from a town in Ohio not too far from where I live. It’s too bad my TV is out of commission, but I probably can find it on the internet, I’m hoping. My sister said they reported our march had over seven hundred people. Of course, that doesn’t compare with those in the larger cities, but for this small town that pulled in people from areas and towns around it, that was still a good amount of people.

I loved this sign from three standing close to us.

While we were waiting, a woman came up and said she wanted to interview one of us for the National Archives. Elaine immediately pointed to me because they know I’m a social person who enjoys talking to people. I had to sign a permission form with my name, and maybe where I’m from. I don’t exactly remember, but when that was taken care of, she started asking me questions like why I was there, and so on. It wasn’t a long interview. When she finished she thanked me and moved on.

I think many women feel that way.

Before we were to head out at noon, the woman who organized the march said there would be some Trump hecklers, and we were to ignore them and not get involved. Our motto was Love Trumps Hate.

A minister came and said a short prayer. We all bowed our heads in silence before we started out.

My sisters and I were closer to the end of the line. Part of the time I walked close to a young man pushing a stroller with two tiny girls, one two and a half years old, and the other six months old. He said his wife was a teacher and was teaching a seminar for new teachers, which is why she couldn’t come. I told him I was a retired teacher. (See I told you I’m a social person.)  He asked what grade I taught, and when I said third grade, he smiled and said that’s what his wife taught.  

When we got to the top of a hill where a beautiful library was on a corner, the marchers crossed over with a police officer holding up traffic. Then we all started downhill. While there had been one car that went by with a Trump sign held out by someone, the only other disruption was three or four men in front of a bar that made derogatory remarks. Most of us ignored them, but a few made some comments back. We hadn’t gone far when I heard two black women a few people behind me start singing “We Shall Overcome.” I turned around, smiled and started singing with them, turning every so often to smile at them as I sang – not as beautifully as they did, of course.

This was one of the many pictures Mary took.

After we all got back to the park, although some left, there were more speeches and a prayer, and then we headed out filled with love and happiness to be with such a group of like-minded people who stood up not only for the rights of women, but blacks, LGBTs, immigrants and people of different religions. My sisters and I vowed to attend any future marches that are held within driving distances. We were psyched up with having such a positive and happy day with so many smiling friendly people.

The March in Sacramento in front of the capital.

My youngest daughter Mary on her own attended a march in Sacramento. She was to ride with others on a train there, but she’d worked the night before and was too tired to get up in time to make the train, so she drove there. She was psyched just like my sisters and I. Like her talkative mother, she enjoyed talking to people and took far more and clearer pictures than I took. She was still on a high this afternoon when she called me after I got home from church. Last night she sent me lots of links to speeches made in Washington D.C. by Ashley Judd, Madonna, Elizabeth Warren, Gloria Steinem and also one by Bernie Sanders in Connecticut, and other speakers, too.

I think this spoke for all who marched everywhere. 

Did you march this past Saturday?

Have you ever marched in a protest march?