We Made HERstory!

Women Marching on Washington Over a Million Strong

Bv EMMA & LLUVIA MULVANEY-STANAK

ver 1.15 million people in a town ruled
oby a dick, a colon and a bush. Ah, the

perfect setting for a Planned
Parenthood gathering. Feminism took many
forms’in the April 26th March for Women ’s
Lives in Washington D.C.

Scores of polished professionals with
lipstick and Louis Vuiton handbags covered in
pro-choice stickers marched side by side with
young feminists shirtless with flowers as bras.
The largest march in the history of the US
turned out 1.15 million people to demand
access to contraception, sex education, abor-
tion, and women’s rights. Entire families turned
out, elderly couples, college students shouting
“1, 2,3, 4, kick Bush out the door” and ’
“Whose choice? My choice."

  

Lluvia: “The vibe was indescribable. It was a
pure community of 1 million people who were
there to defend the right to choose. It really
struck me and I was in awe, walking among the
throngs of people. Even a lifetime of activism

 

 

and regular attendance at rallies and marches
with many, many people — this was my first
democratic gathering where the energy was just
so positive. It really made me have a renewed
sense of hope, in these times of frustration,
anger and negativity.”

Whoopi, Madeline Albright, Ani
Difranco, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Gloria
Steinem, and Ashley Judd were just a few of
the incredible line-up of speakers who rallied
the crowd with inspiring and witty words and
songs of truth, that exposed the Bush
Administration as the most anti-choice and
anti-woman group of politicians we have seen
in decades.

The march poured into the streets of
the District with throngs of people from all
over the country. Signs ranged from the need
for quality sex education and protection for
abortion rights to repealing Bush’s global gag
rule. This gag rule prevents non-govemment
organizations that receive U.S. aid from provid-
ing abortions or even educating women on con-
traception. As a direct result, many non-govern-
mental organizations have lost funding, and
ironically, abortion rates have in eased — along

 

with death rates (as high as one-third) as a con-

sequence from botched, black-market abortions.

But what would a jolly pro-choice
rally be without the fanatic pro—life counter-
protestors? At one street where fewer than 200
pro—life protestors stood, pro-choice march
organizers held a sign mimicking a road sign
reading, “Danger, Entering Fanatic Zone.”
Barely lining the street, the few (and attempting
to be loud) pro—lifers held traditional graphic
fetus signs, bibles, rosaries and religious con-
demnation signs. They attempted to stun and
silence the marchers as we. passed using bull-
horns, but the enthusiasm of the pro-choice
crowd easily drowned out the fanatics. By far
the best retort (besides ignoring them), was a
very popular chant, “Pro-life? That’s a lie! You
don’t care if women die.” More impressively,
several pro-choice marchers dropped out of the
main march and encircled the pro—lifers to
emphasize that indeed they represent a minority
viewpoint.

Emma: “The march reaffirmed my faith in the
political power of people, and most of all,
women. Every speaker emphasized the need to

‘organize, organize, organize’ when we all
returned home, and by the sense of energy in
the crowd, I am extremely hopeful that we will
not only see a regime change but a ‘shift in local
and state—level politicians who are anti-choice
and anti-woman.”

Beyond Roe v. Wade, this march real-
ly marks a revived popular political movement
in this country. Speakers during the main rally
emphasized that the majority of Americans are
indeed pro-choice but the media conglomera-
tion and religious right fanaticism reflected in
the current Administration has skewed popular
perception. With the election rapidly approach-
ing there is once again a sense of hope that our
thoughts and ideas can be expressed through
political action, media and music without being
gagged. A hope that our mothers, sisters and
daughters will be able to choose what is right
for their bodies and their lives. And most

4 importantly, there is hope that indeed we may

see a regime change in November. V

Lluvia Mulvaney—Stanak is the co-director of
Outright Vermont. Emma Mulvaney-Stanak is
Director of the Vermont Livable Wage a

paign