pussy riots

sea of pussy hats

Millions of women (and men and children) took to the streets at over 670 organized demonstrations around the world, including Antartica and Tanzania, for the Women's March. While 45's words, "[g]rab them by the pussy. You can do anything" sparked outrage when it first came to light a few months ago although it was said in 2005, it was just more fuel to the fire of all the other outlandish comments emanating from the man. He issued no apologies then or now.

Initially planned as a movement to protect women's social and reproductive rights, it has encompassed advocacy for LGBTQ, immigrants, minorities, environmental protection and other causes that are threatened by the new POTUS. Within hours of his swearing in, the White House website had already scrubbed LGBTQ, abortion, health care, civil rights and climate change pages.

My friend, Amy (aka Mamy), organized the one in St. Petersburg. They had expected hundreds when planning the events. Over 20,000 participated, shattering records as the largest demonstration in the city's history (previous record was in 2015 at 1,500 people). Even the crowds in Washington D.C. well surpassed the one from the previous day at the inauguration, as photo evidence shows (depending on who is to believed, as the new press secretary has already touted that yesterday broke records and the interior department's twitter account was taken down for posting photos depicting otherwise - propaganda anyone?). Women all over the world who could not attend a demonstration participated by knitting and donating pussy hats as part of the Pussyhat Project. Early reports are that today's collective organizations comprise the largest protest in American history.

As others attempt to divide the nation, the Women's March has resulted in a new wave of activism and solidarity.

"...human rights are women's rights and women's rights are human rights..."

Hilary Clinton - United Nations 4th World Conference on Women, Sept. 5, 1995 

During a documentary spree last year, I chanced upon Suffragette, which was a 2015 movie about the early feminist movement fighting for equality. The women gave up not only professional but also personal lives as their family abandoned them for bucking the status quo. I discovered a newfound appreciation for the women who fought so relentless for the rights that I now take for granted.

So muchas gracias, merçi beaucoup and many heartfelt thanks to Biz, Jeannie, I-Hsing, I-Fong, Susan, Carol, Alison, Gaylen, Amy, Suzette, David, Spencer, Jeff, Jamie, Biggles, Marilyn, Karen, Gail, Andra, Helen, Lori, Pammir, Leslie, Michelle, Sarah, Michele, Emily, Craig, Mia, Duyen, Jennifer, Jessica, Laurey, Julie, Ruth, Dele, Mali, Ian, Marty, Rosie, Wendy, Maureen, Candice, Tonye, Esther, Caroline, Marc, Anne, Mary, Yaminah, Jeremy, Erin, Kathy, Suzanne, Alexandra, Sean, Ashleigh, Finn, Hannah, Kristen, Heather, Elizabeth, Grace, Naomi, Byron, Kimberly, Suzi, Holly, Denise, Melissa, Gwen, Wendy, Park, and countless other names and faces of "nasty" women, men and children who joined our predecessors (Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Rose Schneiderman, Frances Perkins, Margaret Sanger, Ella Baker, Barbara Gitting, Audre Lorde, Eleanor Roosevelt, Rosa Parks, to name a very few) in ensuring our voices are heard in the name of equality for all.

Mark my words...this is the makings of the strongest generation of women yet, nasty or not.