Women's march could quickly fade: Column

I have to admit I was pretty nervous the day before my trip to cover the Women’s March on Washington.

I’d just received a safety advisory from the Committee to Protect Journalists on covering the presidential inauguration and the women’s march with tips on dealing with “aggression.”

Somehow the list reminded me of advice for dealing with coyotes that my town often sends out, courtesy of the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

CPJ: “Keep press credentials out of sight unless it is necessary to show them.”

NYSDEC: “Unintentional food sources attract coyotes and other wildlife and increase risks to people and pets.”

CPJ: “Keep eye contact with an aggressor, use open hand gestures and keep talking with a calming manner.”

NYSDEC: “If you see a coyote, be aggressive in your behavior, stand tall and hold arms out to look large.”

CPJ: “Keep an extended arm's length from the threat.”

NYSDEC: “Teach children to appreciate coyotes from a distance.”

To my relief, the march turned out to be one of the most peaceful protests in the history of protests. Not one arrest was made as an estimated 500,000 people streamed into the nation’s capital, more than double what organizers had anticipated.

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There was a sense of camaraderie, solidarity and empowerment, and a desire on the part of marchers to let their presence be known a day after Donald Trump had been been sworn in as president.

Protesters marched for a multitude of reasons: to stand against disrespect toward women displayed by Trump; to preserve abortion rights; to protest the wage gap; and to generally protect the civil rights of all citizens, regardless of their race, religion, gender identities or sexual preferences.

One sign read: “We are the silent majority.”

But coursing through the parade was a general sense of sadness and loss. Many marchers were unsettled by the idea that the country was being led by a man who had described women in the crudest of ways.

There were Wall Street women, doctors, lawyers, teachers, stay-at-home moms, college and high school kids. Some had traveled 20 hours by bus. There were fathers, sons and friends showing their support and respect for the women in their lives. Some of the men even wore pink pussycat hats. The march definitely had a liberal, educated, upper-middle class vibe to it.

And it was so civil that it hardly felt like a protest.

“Tell me what democracy looks like! This is what democracy looks like,” the marchers chanted.

As they made their way toward the Washington Mall through residential neighborhoods, homeowners stood on stoops to thank them. Some had tears in their eyes.

For many, it was an exhausting day and an exhilarating day. Some older women talked about being in Washington when Roe v. Wade — the case that legalized abortion — was being heard by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1973. Some said they were marching for their daughters and granddaughters.

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Of course, not all women identify with the marchers — or were even welcome at the march. A week before the event, organizers of the Women’s March severed its partnership with the New Wave Feminists, a pro-life group that opposed Trump, saying the march's platform was pro-choice.

On Sunday, Trump asked on Twitter why the women who marched in the protest didn't vote. Not an unfair question, given that Trump beat Hillary Clinton among white women 53%to 43%.

To me, the million-dollar question is: Will the march translate into anything, or will it just be remembered as a feel-good event for the yoga pants and crunchy granola set?

If the Occupy Wall Street movement is any indication, the one-day effort may not amount to much.

Just look at Trump’s cabinet for evidence of the Occupy failure. It’s well-stocked with 1-percenters.

Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy is an engagement editor and member of the editorial board for The Journal News/lohud.com, where this piece first appeared. Follow her on Twitter @SwapnaVenugopal.

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