31 powerful reasons people are protesting at the Women's March.
For the past, the present, and the future, people share their reasons for marching.
In an unprecedented rebuke to the inauguration of President Donald Trump, hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets and marched on Washington, D.C. — and around the world — on Jan. 21, 2017.
On his first full day in office, the Women's March on Washington drew demonstrators from across the country — men, women, and children alike — to fight back against harmful rhetoric and campaign proposals Trump has promised.
Hundreds of thousands of protesters descend on Washington, D.C., for the Women's March. Photo by Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images.
The march, which comes amid a slew of new polls reflecting historically low favorability ratings for the 45th president, united members of many marginalized groups, from people of color and immigrants to LGBTQ Americans and survivors of sexual assault to members of the disabled community who created a virtual version of the march — all who felt targeted by the president throughout his 2016 campaign.
Using the hashtag #WhyIMarch on Twitter, many marchers expressed why they took to the streets. Here are 31 of their powerful responses:
1. This person is marching for his son, who idolizes Hillary Clinton.
2. This person is marching for undocumented immigrants, who deserve better.
Sending love to my undocumented sisters and brothers. I will fight with you and for you. #HereToStay #WhyIMarch— Linda Sarsour (@Linda Sarsour) 1484925791
3. This person is marching to pay her mother's selflessness forward.
Marching b/c my mom came to this country so I could have the opportunities she was denied for being a woman… https://t.co/aIeide3whB— Bonnie Casillas (@Bonnie Casillas) 1484023244
4. This person is marching to take a stand for disability rights and respect.
5. This person is marching because she is enough.
6. This person is marching because she wants to do what's right for her child.
One reason I'm attending #WomensMarch is b/c I want to be the role model my daughter deserves #whyIMarch— Sarah Nyswonger (@Sarah Nyswonger) 1484077793
7. This person is marching because there's no excuse for inequality.
It is unfathomable that equal rights don't exist & my 21 yr old daughter has to deal w/ sexual, financial & social… https://t.co/L9VTrjGP7I— Allison Banks #getvaccinated (@Allison Banks #getvaccinated) 1484023822
8. This person is marching because we should all have control over our own bodies.
I'm marching because the freedom to decide what to do with one's body is the most basic and profound human right. #WomensMarch #whyIMarch— Casey Casias (@Casey Casias) 1484064113
9. The actor Melissa Benoist, marches because you just don't mess with Supergirl (or the woman who plays her).
.@MelissaBenoist IS a legend ✊🏻#WomensMarch https://t.co/VPsDCaPcCJ— 𝘾𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙖 𝙇 𝙉𝙚𝙬𝙨 (@𝘾𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙖 𝙇 𝙉𝙚𝙬𝙨) 1485014300
10. This person is marching to be an ally to everyone who feels afraid.
I'm joining the @womensmarch in Washington on Saturday to support everyone who feels threatened by what's happening in America #WhyIMarch— Grant Wahl (@Grant Wahl) 1484880681
11. This person is marching because women ... well, they're people, too.
@womensmarch I'm marching because, like most women, I too am human, & support human rights & equality. Also, these… https://t.co/PAGo0mZzLY— bpinder (@bpinder) 1484088465
12. This person is marching because the future depends on having good schools.
13. Little Miss Flint is marching because we all deserve clean drinking water.
We wont have access to safe water until 2020!! #WhyIMarch #FlintWaterCrisis #WMWYouth #Flint #MISOTS17 https://t.co/gXOS4HQodU— Mari Copeny (@Mari Copeny) 1484703220
14. This person is marching to feel rejuvenated once again.
I am marching to be strengthened and uplifted. I am hoping to gather knowledge on how to go forward #WhyIMarch— Karen Lambert (@Karen Lambert) 1484060677
15. This person is marching for trans rights.
"Trans rights are human rights." #WhyIMarch https://t.co/593g9TouXl— Feminist Frequency (@Feminist Frequency) 1484958659
16. This person is marching because "justice for all" means justice for all.
To demand equality, reproductive rights, safety for people of all races, beliefs, gender or sexual identities. For Justice! #WhyIMarch— wendi (@wendi) 1484060599
17. This person is marching for her granddaughter — and everyone else's, too.
#WhyIMarch #January21 @womensmarch - I march for my granddaughter and all young girls! https://t.co/zP7Kt4BeX8— Mary A. Williams (@Mary A. Williams) 1484088223
18. This person is marching because she's basically everything Trump has attacked on the campaign trail.
I am everything he thinks is evil- Mexican, female, immigrant, scientist, educated, not scared, successful, open-minded #WhyIMarch #Jan21 🇺🇸— Smilybean (@Smilybean) 1484060347
19. This person is marching because equal rights shouldn't be controversial.
#WhyIMarch because everyone deserves the same rights, no matter their gender, race, origin, or sexuality #WomensMarch— Ariana Moore (@Ariana Moore) 1485013653
20. This person is marching for female veterans and those living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Thank you to all the powerful voices supporting #women & #veterans! Only 11 days until #womensmarch🇺🇸! #whyIMarch >… https://t.co/waWaSGj2nj— Pam Campos-Palma🇺🇸🇭🇳🇬🇹 (@Pam Campos-Palma🇺🇸🇭🇳🇬🇹) 1484052304
21. This person is marching because of the women who came before her.
For the women who fought for the vote, her seat on the bus and her place in the office. #WhyIMarch #WomensMarch #Seattle— Stephanie Timken (@Stephanie Timken) 1485013555
22. This person is marching because her family is as diverse as America itself.
23. This person is marching to take a stand against sexual assault.
24. This person is marching to put an end to gun violence.
This bell cannot be unrung. @momsdemand @Everytown #WomensMarch https://t.co/Yjiv2kuha7— TheIndyJagger (@TheIndyJagger) 1485014934
25. These people are marching because the rights of all women are at stake, no matter their jobs.
Team CHANGE marching for all women, sex workers included. #WomensMarch #BreakBarriers https://t.co/fHdWnk0IcF— CHANGE (@CHANGE) 1485013180
26. This person is marching because we simply cannot give up now.
#whyIMarch we've come too far to give up the forward motion— nancy 🇺🇸 (@nancy 🇺🇸) 1484059243
27. CNN's Sally Kohn is marching because these are not the words of a leader.
Unacceptable before. Unacceptable now. ( via @dreamhampton ) #WhyIMarch #WomensMarch #NotMyPresident https://t.co/XDlrf9XvOH— Sally Kohn (@Sally Kohn) 1485000252
28. This person is marching because the future depends on it.
For the rights of the generations to come 💛 #whyIMarch #WomensMarch— Shelby Wulfert (@Shelby Wulfert) 1485013834
29. Actress Lupita Nyong'o marches because she won't let the world rob her of her dignity.
#WhyIMarch: I have decided not to be reduced by any events, social or political, that aim to rob me of my dignity.… https://t.co/1Bjj2kYsAw— Lupita Nyong'o (@Lupita Nyong'o) 1484946771
30. Sen. Patty Murray (D-Washington) marches as a message to politicians who want to deny people access to affordable care at Planned Parenthood.
For the millions of men & women who rely on Planned Parenthood for their health care needs. #WhyIMarch https://t.co/2dMYon8JGH— Senator Patty Murray (@Senator Patty Murray) 1485011009
31. This person marches because she survived the attack at Sandy Hook and won't stop now.
Sandy Hook survivor Yvonne and @Ashleycech at the #womensMarch #WMNYC @momsdemand https://t.co/9Lvf0qd3Ui— Barry Graubart (@Barry Graubart) 1485015456
Human rights are under attack. Women's rights are under attack. The women, the men, the boys, and the girls who march today are sending a powerful message at those who seek to deny others those rights.
No matter who you voted for (or if you voted) in November's election, you have a right to make your voice heard — and around the world, hundreds of thousands of people are doing just that. Change is possible, and protests do work.
The 31 stories shared here are a small sampling of the wide range of reasons people have taken to the streets in dissent. When things look tough, let us look to those voices, let us join in their chorus.
A woman in Barcelona, Spain, marches for women's rights. Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images.