A blue sky reigned over the 2018 Women's March in Denver as crowds of men, women and children stepped out from Civic Center Park to celebrate love, individuality, and the power of the ballot. Pink hats and colorful signs contrasted with the azure background as now-familiar chants of "Show me what democracy looks like!" : "This is what democracy looks like!" gathered momentum from the front of the crowd. Feelings of solidarity bonded disparate groups, which broke out in spontaneous laughter at some of the best signs: "It's so bad, even introverts are here!", "Grab 'em by the Ballot," "Resistance is Fertile," "IKEA has better cabinets," and more.
The scene took me back to where we were at the time of last year's March. Many members of my Saturday group were in Washington, DC last year, while the others were in Denver. We missed a few companions, one of whom wore her March on Washington sweatshirt at the ski resort and sent bracing photos via text. In contrast to the Washington, DC, march, we could move this year, which relieved the claustrophobia. The crowds were still large; an estimated 50,000 people showed up in Colorado's capitol, and large gatherings occurred around the country and the world.
What does this mean? Despite the psychological warfare waged by the current administration, which hands down hate-filled and retrogressive edicts (or multiples thereof) every day, a majority of this country still has energy to protest bad laws, bad language, and bad precedent. We won't be broken by the onslaught, though many of us battle depression and exhaustion. Some of the strongest among us are running for office. Whether we are on the ballot or wielding it, the 2018 ballot box will be our weapon, and Saturday signaled our intent to wield it.
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