Three buses full of Wisconsin women are in Pennsylvania this morning, on their way to the Women’s March on Washington.
More than 50 women filled each bus, on the way to join an expected 200,000 women who will march on Washington in response to the inauguration of Donald Trump as president. Hundreds of thousands more women are expected to attend local marches around the country. Each has her own reasons for making the trip.
“As an African-American woman I am coming to the march because I think that it’s important for there to be more than enough representation of women of color,” said Jona Moore of Milwaukee. “I want to be able to go back and tell the young girls that I work with about this experience and make sure that they understand and know that they can do anything they want to do. Be anything they want to be. And they don’t have to be afraid or ashamed to be who they are. I’m marching to show all young girls that I am proud to be an African American, a woman, and woman of substance.”
“I guess I’m marching because the voice needs to be heard,” said Tamira Hamilton. “I think we have a different story and a different journey that needs to be taken into account. There are definitely some issues happening that are definitely a concern to me and my family that I don’t want to be overlooked and not heard.”
Sharon Teschke said she’s taking the march as her personal responsibility to make things better. “Following the election, I asked myself the question, ‘What part of this belongs to me?’” she said. “I concluded voting is not enough and I need to do more. I cannot be complacent and expect someone else to do what needs to be done to continue the gains we have made as women and as a country.”
Amy Kuerscher of Neenah sees it as an opportunity to support future generations. “I have benefited personally and professionally by the work and sacrifice of so many women and men,” she said. “I was able to live the life I wanted by standing on the shoulders of those before me. It is now my turn to act to help not only the current but future generations.”
The buses will arrive in Washington this morning and return to Wisconsin immediately following the march. We will have continuing coverage of the march and its effects.
