This is what Democracy looks like! This is what Democracy looks like! This is what Democracy Sounds like! This is what Democracy Sounds like!

Over and over the chanting through the crowds like a battlecry to make the voices heard and to let others know that once the day was over, it was going to continue. You may ask, well where were these people during the elections and for voting? They were there all along.
What was the Women’s March about?
Read the signs, look at the people, I saw Christians, Muslims, Pagans, Asians, American Indians, Blacks, Spanish, not just Caucasian. People from all walks of life too. You can’t tell a book by it’s cover, instead talk to them and listen to their stories.
As I type this up now, the news is not good regarding healthcare, immigrants, the Dakota pipeline, our children’s education and so much more. Even NJ’s Pinelands are being threatened by a pipeline, and another just 3-4 miles away from where I live.

The Onondowa’ga’ American Indians with the Onondaga Nation’s (“People of the Hills”) flag.
We are Onondowa’ga’

The Onondowa’ga’:

Have a Matrilineal Society

Respect Women and Elders

Honor Mother Earth

Give Thanks Daily

The Onondowa’ga’ are smart.

Be like the Onondowa’ga’.

I managed to get inside the rally with my backpack, it weighed 25 lbs, on me it was huge, as I’m just 5’0 and around 100lbs. I was super polite and determined to get through the crowd. And then I came to a fence. No one would let me in because even though I had a press pass, I wasn’t able to get the Media Credentials. Security said that I should’ve gotten there sooner. Well I tried, but the crowds were crazy, my bus was parked in MD, and it took longer than expected to get there. I was upset, exhausted, sore and more than anything, disappointed. Disappointed because I wanted to do the very best job that I was asked to do, and I was sooo close to getting to the stage.
So I’m just standing there, catching my breath, figuring out my next move while taking some photos. I then hear a woman say to me, you’re making me feel uncomfortable. Thinking that I had hit her with my bag, I immediately said I’m sorry, that I was with an organization and was trying to do my job of documenting the event. I showed her my pass, and yet she kept talking….I’m very uncomfortable with you and your backpack…I’m still not getting it. I had not been able to eat lunch yet, so I said, I’m sorry what? She said, Boston? Backpack? You weren’t checked in by security, so I’m very uncomfortable with you being here. Once again, patiently I said, politely explained who I was with, etc., and she kept going on and on. Finally I was like, where can I go? You’re making me uncomfortable by saying these things to me, you know what’s uncomfortable? Carrying around my gear, all day, gladly, and not being able to go to a certain point to do my job! Then the other women around me started telling her to be quiet, and that I was just fine, and that we are all here to support one another. She finally stopped, but really there’s always one person….



As you can see, I was really close, and don’t think I wasn’t tempted to make a jump for it. But after much thought, I decided I needed to get out of there as the march was going to start really soon at this point.
So once again, I wiggled out of there, excuse me please, excuse me please, thank you, excuse me please, excuse me please, thank you, until I got out. My name that day was The Excuse Me Please Girl with the Big Camera Backpack….

Back on C St., everyone was filing out, and somewhere the march had started….
I loved this guy <3








Someone was listening to me…Planned Parenthood’s Cecile Richard was walking right by me and a large awesome group of women gathered around her for a group shot. Thank you!!!

I found another pile of steel to stand up on, so I climbed up and had fun!

This mother and her daughters were chanting, this is what Democracy looks like! This is what Democracy sounds like!


Entire families were there. My aunt, uncle, sister-in law and my niece were somewhere there too! I tried to find them, but phones, and connections didn’t work very well that day.




I loved how people would stop in front of me so that I could take their picture.
Many people were there from Standing Rock. By now I was hearing drums….







Love her sunglasses, Pink Batgirl!







Pure joy….



I actually ran into friends on this busy corner! The woman on the left wearing the green jacket is one of my daughter’s Girls On The Run coaches from NJ! By then I HAD to eat. I stood in line, ordered and ate for about an hour from one of the food trucks. I got swayed by the delicious smells of chicken and french fries.
After eating, I made my way around, taking more photos….the march has pretty much ended it seemed in this area.

Abe Lincoln still commands…
People on the stage were still speaking…
I just followed everyone and found great people and their signs…

These two 16 year olds were being interviewed….

I said something funny and wrong to get their reactions…

I took their photos with their cell phones, and then I took one with mine, an even trade…

My hair had reached the point of no return at that point, but I got my picture.

So why did everyone march? To be heard, to be seen, to show everyone in the senate, the congress, in the White House, that women, children and men won’t sit down and do nothing. Read the signs they are carrying, they have real concerns, look at those who are in wheelchairs, or look to yourself if you have a pre-existing health condition.

More people showed up for this than the Inauguration, that’s a proven FACT.  This march wasn’t just held in Washington, D.C., but in cities, towns, and countries all over the world. Even in the Antarctic there was a protest. If all of this is going on, with MILLIONS protesting, then you must be really “not liked very much”…..something’s got to give.

Stay tuned for a continuation of this story in another post. I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below! Thank you!

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