The Women’s March Oaxaca was an overwhelming success! The sun was shining, the sky was blue, pussy hats were present, and estimates put the crowd at almost 2,000 people from the USA, Canada, Mexico, and a few other countries. We even made the front page of Noticias, one of Oaxaca’s major daily newspapers.
I was helping to hold the lead banner, so my photos only begin to tell the story of this amazing event. To tell you the truth, I got teary eyed at the feeling of solidarity from those who marched, those on the sidewalks, and those watching from windows and doorways.
Why did I march? I marched because I want a future for my grandchildren that is not based on hate, fear, and environmental catastrophe.
I marched because, in the 7+ years I have lived in Oaxaca, I have been treated with kindness, generosity, and respect and I want the same for Mexicans and all other immigrants (with and without papers) living in the USA.
I marched because I believed those words on the Statue of Liberty my 8th grade teacher, Mrs. Robinson, had us memorize:
The New Colossus
By Emma Lazarus
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
See the Women’s March Oaxaca website for more photos, videos, and press reports.
Reblogged this on Oaxaca Cultural Navigator : Norma Hawthorne and commented:
An amazing event organized by an extraordinary, dedicated group of women. It started today. Continue to take action. Our lives depend on it.
Thanks, Norma!
Well done and this is what I thought the march was about but my photos include other issues that didn’t belong in the march. You did a great job of presenting the real issues behind the march.
Thanks! Be sure to check out more photos on the Women’s March Oaxaca website https://womensmarchoaxaca.wordpress.com/photos-fotos/
According to this tally in progress, Oaxaca had the biggest turnout in Mexico.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1xa0iLqYKz8x9Yc_rfhtmSOJQ2EGgeUVjvV4A8LsIaxY/htmlview?sle=true#gid=0
I was in Montpelier, VT where we had 15-20 thousand – among them our own Bernie Sanders.
Way to go, Montpelier! Latest tally has us at between 2000 and 3000. Both numbers are way beyond our wildest expectations. 🙂
[…] years ago today, we were marching in the streets of Oaxaca — part of a worldwide post inauguration day response to the dark days we could see coming […]