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Photo by Lindsay Thompson Drake
Iowa March
United Methodist laity and clergy joined in the Women's March in Des Moines, Iowa, reported Lindsay Thompson Drake.
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Photo Courtesy of Deborah Lynn Coble
Charleston, W.Va. March
The Rev. Deborah Lynn Coble and Martha Hill, chair of West Virginia UMC Justice and Advocacy Committee, took part in the Women’s March on the West Virginia Capitol.
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Photo Courtesy of John D. Copenhaver
Winchester, Va., March
The Rev. John D. Copenhaver joined two of his Shenandoah University colleagues, Mary Hofstra and Petra Schweitzer, in the Women's March in Winchester, Va.
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Photo Courtesy of Lea Matthews
New York City Signs
Shakeel Samuel, Rev. Lea Matthews, Shirley Struchen and Nancy Myers display their signs for the New York City March
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Photo Courtesy of Andy Oliver
St. Petersburg March
In St. Petersburg, Fla., the Rev. Andy Oliver of Allendale UMC made sure that one of his senior parishoners, Evelyn Wilty, 87, participated along with his wife, Rachel Barlow Oliver, and son Evan Oliver, age 5, who "picked out what he wanted to say on his sign by himself," said his dad.
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Photo by Jeff Procter-Murphy
Phoenix March
Blue sky smiled down in Phoenix, Ariz., as United Methodists Rachel, Claire, and Janice Procter-Murphy joined their dad and spouse, the Rev. Jeff Procter-Murphy in the Women's March
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Photo by Steve Horswill-Johnston
Nashville March
In a scene repeated many times around the United States, crowds packed downtown streets in Nashville's "sister" march for women.
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Photo by Carrie Bail
Vermont March
Crowds marched to the state capital in Montpelier, Vermont, reported the Rev. Carrie Bail.
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Photo by Daniel R. Gangler
Indianapolis March
United Methodists were well represented at the Indianapolis Women's March, reported the Rev. Daniel R. Gangler.
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Photo Courtesy of Garlinda Burton
Washington March
United Methodist female leaders took part in the Women's March on Washington, DC, in a "witness for justice." From left are Frances Jett Roberts of the General Board of Church and Society; Erin M. Hawkins, top executive of the General Commission on Religion and Race; and M. Garlinda Burton, former top executive of the General Commission on Status and Role of Women.
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Photo by Lea Matthews
New York City March Prep
United Methodists Cheryl and Jim Melchiorre have their signs prepared for the New York City March.
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Photo by Tracy Merrick
Pittsburgh
Marchers, including United Methodists, thronged the streets of downtown Pittsburgh, Pa., reported United Methodist layman Tracy Merrick.
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Photo by John Astle
Dallas March
All the Women's March drew hefty male supporters as well. Here one of the Dallas marchers sports a sign saying "Hate Has No Home Here."
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Photo by Christy Thomas
Austin March
The Rev. Christy Thomas of Frisco, Texas, traveled to the Texas state capital of Austin to participate in a Women's March. There she captured a popular sign, "Girls Just Want to Have FUNdamental Rights," a word play on Cyndi Lauper's popular song, "Girls Just Want to Have Fun."
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Photo Courtesy of Jane Dearing Dennis
Little Rock March
United Methodist Jane Dearing Dennis and friend Jamie Griffith joined the Women's March to the state capital in Little Rock, Ark.
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Photo by Kay Panovec
Cleveland Disability
A woman using a walker expresses her appreciation for the marchers in the Cleveland event.
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Photo by Kay Panovec
Cleveland March
Two girls who drew their own messages for the Cleveland March drew the eye of United Methodist communicator Kay Panovec.
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Photo by Heather Josselyn-Cranson
Boston March
Some 130,000 to 150,000 people thronged the Boston Common in a "sister" march to the Women's March on Washington, D.C.
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Photo by Susan Saner Davenport
Washington March
Susan Saner Davenport captured this crowd shot as she participated in the Women's March on Washington, DC, on Jan. 21.
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Photo Courtesy of Susan Davis
Cincinnati March
Clifton UMC was well represented at the Cincinnati Women's March, reported Susan Davis.
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Photo Courtesy of Richard T. Reinhard
DC Hospitality
Capitol Hill United Methodist Church distributed flyers such as this offering hospitality to participants in the Women's March on Washington, DC.
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Photo Courtesy of Angela Rotherham
Maine March
Rev. Angela Rotherham joins her former seminary professor Pamela Shellberg marching in Portland, Maine. Rev. Rotherham serves as pastor of Brackett Memorial UMC on Peaks Island, ME.
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Photo Courtesy of DanaBeth Wells-Goodwin
Kennebunk, Maine
Rev.Linda Grenfells and Rev. DanaBeth Wells-Goodwin gathered with women, men, and children in Kennebunk Maine, for the Women's March Jan. 21. More than 700 attended, and many motorists honked their support as they passed by, reported Rev. Wells-Goodwin
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Photo by K Karpen
From NYC to DC
A contingent from St. Paul and St. Andrew United Methodist Church in New York City traveled to the Women's March on Washington, DC. A second group marched in the New York City sister march.
United Methodists were well represented among the estimated 2.2 million to 3 million people who turned out across America and around the world in Women’s Marches on Jan. 21. They marched to witness to progressive public policies in rebuttal of the agenda announced by newly inaugurated U.S. President Donald Trump.
Originally planned as the Women’s March on Washington, D.C., the event mushroomed into some 670 gatherings worldwide. According to a map prepared by the New York Times, at least one “sister march” to the Washington event occurred in every state of the union. In addition, sister marches took place in such far-flung places as London, Paris, Dublin, Vienna, Bangkok, Singapore, Tokyo, Sydney, Cape Town, and Wellington, New Zealand, along with marches in both Central America and South America.
The number of participants far exceeded the organizers’ wildest expectations. The original Washington, D. C. march drew an estimated 500,000 people, only to be topped by its Los Angeles sister march that drew 750,000 marchers. In Chicago, some 200,000 people thronged the parade route to such an extent that organizers turned the march into a stationary rally because they couldn’t fit the crowds down the street.
At the same time, participants came out in droves for sometimes hastily arranged gatherings. When heads were counted, the estimates blew out all expectations. Some examples:
- Boston, 135,000 to 150,000 people;
- New York City, 250,000 people;
- Palm Beach, Fla., 7,000 people;
- St. Petersburg, Fla., 20,000 people;
- Des Moines, Iowa, 26,000 people;
- St. Louis, Mo., 10,000 people;
- Austin, Texas, 40,000 people;
- Dallas, Texas, 5,000 to 8,000 people;
- Denver, Colo., 100,000 to 150,000 people;
- Phoenix, Ariz., 20,000 people;
- Seattle, Wash., 130,000 people;
- Portland, Ore., 100,000 to 150,000 people.
Some of the most significant marches occurred in unlikely places. Some two dozen passengers were photographed holding protest signs on a tour ship in the Antarctic. In the tiny town of Monhegan, Maine, where the wintertime population reaches 75, some 15 to 20 people came out to march with their signs.
The signs themselves bore messages that covered the spectrum of progressive concerns from women’s rights and sexism, to racism and immigration, labor and economic justice, health care to climate change. Although Washington organizers asked on their website for participants’ signs to bring positive messages about women, all the marches had signs protesting President Trump. The new president’s remarks reported during the 2016 presidential campaign regarding sexual predation on women had served as the catalyst for the Women’s March on Washington. The event began as a Facebook post, according to the New York Times, which then blossomed into a global happening in the two months between Mr. Trump’s upset election over United Methodist Hillary Rodham Clinton and his inauguration on Jan. 20.
United Methodist marchers, however, made it clear in their Facebook posts, Twitter feeds and Instagram photos that their motivation for marching was their Christian faith. Many marchers granted permission for United Methodist Insight to use both their photos and their texts from their local events. Some excerpts:
Jane Dearing Dennis, who attended the Little Rock, Ark., March, on Facebook: “I was asked why I took part in the Women's March. I marched for my daughters, for women everywhere, for the poor, the marginalized, struggling immigrants, LGBT persons, the disabled, persons of all faiths and all nationalities, members of the media — ALL who have been maligned, belittled and attacked because of who they are or the job that they do. I marched in support of diversity and unity and against violence, against those who lead by spouting hate, promoting division and untruths. I marched because I believe it honored God to be part of a movement that calls on our nation to love and care for each other. I marched because I wanted my beliefs and opinions to be heard. I marched because I have a voice and the freedom to let it be heard.”
Photo by Eric Folkerth
Lilly Neubauer
Lilly Neubauer, a member of Northaven United Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas, attended the Dallas March with her daughter, Heidi Neubauer.
Lilly Neubauer, who attended the Dallas, Texas, March with her daughter Heidi, on Instagram: “Our #adoptivefamily marches for life today knowing that the true army against the painful decisions of unplanned pregnancy is not laws and shame. Sadly, it's the most life affirming principles of our country that are on the line – equal rights to quality education, equal labor rights, equal pay, access to family planning and cancer screenings, *parental* leave … and making racism, bigotry and sexual violence a deal breaker in this country.”
Heather Josselyn-Cranson, who attended the Boston March with her daughter Seraphina, on Facebook: “Family and friends of all colors, all faiths, all genders... we were marching in Boston because you all – we all – deserve to be treated with fairness and kindness and equality and respect.”
Tracy Merrick, who attend the Pittsburgh, Pa., March, on Facebook: “Today was an amazing day in Pittsburgh! Attended the Summit Against Racism and walked in the Women's March downtown along with at least 15,000 others including more than a few United Methodist colleagues! (Some estimates are as high as 25,000 participants!).”
The Rev. Lea Matthews, pastor of the Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew, who attended the New York City March, in an email to Insight: [Some] 100 Methodists and friends gathered at the Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew to march under the banner of the New York Annual Conference Immigration Task Force. Represented were clergy and members from 14 or more Methodist churches in our conference. … I will say that it was a day I will long remember. It was a full day of collective action and voicing our resistance. It was a remarkable day, filled with joy. Chants of ‘Love is what will make America great again!’ ‘Love trumps hate!’ In all that time we were there, I didn't hear one harsh word, not among the marchers or the volunteers or the city officials or the police officers. It was an outpouring of harmony. … It was the visual gospel, thousands upon thousands of people standing up for those most marginalized and vulnerable in our communities. It gives me great hope in what otherwise is a very uncertain time.”
Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight.