Adrianna Rochester – General Assignment Reporter
The turn out for the presidential elections caused many Americans to rally together after it became clear the unity President Obama brought to the country during his presidency vanished after the climate of the presidential campaign revealed deep division between the American peoples.
In reaction to Donald Trump becoming the 45th president of the country, thousands of people in America gathered to protest the inauguration. One specific movement—The Women’s March, which took place the day after the inauguration—gained nationwide support. About 200,000 people from around the country were expected to attend the march in the nation’s capital, according to USA Today.
Often times people do not talk about the state of the country, but there is always an urgency, especially now, said Yi-Chun Tricia Lin, director of the women’s studies program.
After witnessing the way the elections went and the current social state of the country, Lin said she felt “compelled to join in solidarity to take a stance for human and women’s rights.”
“I wish we didn’t have to march, but when times call for us to band together, we march,” she said.
Lin said she encourages people of all ages and walks of life to advocate at their own will because to not participate means you are not in solidarity.
“The Women’s March didn’t just happen in D.C.,” she said. “People were marching everywhere.”
“Even here in New Haven and places like Hartford and Boston people were marching not only for women’s rights, but the rights of all people,” Lin said.
Students were also buzzing about the many protests and they too answered the call to protest the inauguration. One such student was Deidra Henry who said when she heard about the Women’s March in D.C., she immediately made plans to attend.
“One voice isn’t enough, we need more voices to even begin to make change,” Henry said.
She said even though she was unable to go to D.C. to march beside those protesters because the price of the bus and train tickets became too expensive, she opted for the women’s march that took place in New Haven, Conn.
Alisha Martindale, graduate student of the women’s studies programs, said this is a national movement for women’s voices to heard.
“Now that I’m older and understand the political world more, being at the march was important to me,” Martindale said. “It’s neat knowing I was a part of history.”
Martindale said, “I hope someone is able to see my activism and use that to inspire themselves to also become active in the cause too.”
Lin said, the people must brace themselves for what is to come next, but no matter what the future holds she will continue to fight for social rights and remain hopeful for the nation and humanity.
Header Photo Courtesy: Yi-Chun Tricia Lin
