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Ohioans Head To Washington For Women's March

President Trump’s inauguration isn’t the only thing attracting people to the nation’s capital. A nationwide march for women’s rights will be held there tomorrow. Some of those who plan to participate got a little taste of what is to come when they participated in a march in downtown Columbus this past weekend.

More than 2000 gathered in a plaza in downtown Columbus for what was being billed “the sister march.”

But there were some brothers in this march too. Fathers, Mothers, daughters, grandmas and grandpas of all ages and ethnicities.

Men participated in the march too
Credit Jo Ingles
Men participated in the march too

Some of the marchers in this event will be in the nation’s capital for the event. Others say they can’t go but they want to show support for the national Women’s March in Washington D.C. that is expected to attract one hundred times more.

At this march, some carried signs. Some wore signs. And some of those signs will be worn by marchers this weekend. Some plastered pictures of daughters, mothers, granddaughters and grandmothers on their backs, saying they are marching in their honor or memory. There were women who were drumming.

Some of the signs at the rally
Credit Jo Ingles
Some of the signs at the rally

And some wore costumes. Allie Brown of Columbus was one of a half dozen people who were dressed as suffragettes.

“This is a Victorian era inspired outfit and the message is just that we are essentially still fighting the same fights. So it is in support of the people who came before us but also the implication that we are moving a little bit backwards here.”

Some marchers wore suffragette costumes
Credit Jo Ingles
Some marchers wore suffragette costumes

Betsy Tannehill of Columbus says she’s always believed women’s rights are human rights – one of the big themes of this march. But she says she felt it was important to take a stand….or a walk now.

“This is the first march I’ve done. I’m 73 years old and I thought I had better do one before it gets too late. Cause I have a friend who went for abortion rights in Washington 14 years ago and she couldn’t come this time because of health issues and I thought I’m not going to be a chicken anymore so I’m going to come.”  

Women held hands around the Statehouse as part of faith event
Credit Jo Ingles
Women held hands around the Statehouse as part of faith event

So, wearing her homemade pink pussy cat hat, inspired by comments Donald Trump made years ago on a hot mic while working with Access Hollywood, Tannehill joined thousands of others as they took off on the mile-long trek to the Statehouse.

(ten seconds of different chants/marching)

Many of these women say the election of Trump has been the catalyst that made them take to the streets in an event like this. Robin Jasper, a grandmother from Newark, was holding a sign that read, “now you’ve pissed off Grandma.”

“This is a call to action for myself personally.  I have gotten through my life. I work hard. I am a social worker. I see people in need. But I need to get busy because we have let other people in other parties infiltrate local level school boards, our local government, our state government but most importantly on the federal level, and it’s time for Americans to get busy and get ready for the midterm election to make our voices and our votes heard at that time.”

Organizers of the march say it’s not a protest. They say it’s meant to emphasize love and unity. At the end of the march, many joined faith leaders already at the Statehouse who were holding an event of their own there. Barbara Marshall of Hillard was among that group.

“It’s not a church function. We’re just people who care about the rights of women, of the LGBT, of immigrants, of people whose rights might be in danger.”

Marshall and many other marchers then joined hands and circled the Statehouse in solidarity.

One of the signs
Jo Ingles /
One of the signs
Another sign
Jo Ingles /
Another sign
Women with pictures of daughters on back of their coats
Roger Ingles /
Women with pictures of daughters on back of their coats
The march takes off in downtown Columbus
Jo ingles /
The march takes off in downtown Columbus
Congressional member Joyce Beatty helps hold sign
Jo Ingles /
Congressional member Joyce Beatty helps hold sign
Wearing sign on back of coat
Roger Ingles /
Wearing sign on back of coat
Former Ohio Governor Ted Strickland was there
Roger Ingles /
Former Ohio Governor Ted Strickland was there
Some wore these signs on backs of coats - they are wearing these in Washington D.C. march too
Jo Ingles /
Some wore these signs on backs of coats - they are wearing these in Washington D.C. march too
Kim Holstein participates in unity event after march
Karen Kasler /
Kim Holstein participates in unity event after march
At the Ohio Statehouse
Roger Ingles /
At the Ohio Statehouse

Copyright 2017 The Statehouse News Bureau

Jo Ingles is a professional journalist who covers politics and Ohio government for the Ohio Public Radio and Television for the Ohio Public Radio and Television Statehouse News Bureau. She reports on issues of importance to Ohioans including education, legislation, politics, and life and death issues such as capital punishment.