Manchester residents attend historic Women’s Marches
Photo of Washington DC march. Photo courtesy of Amber Houttekier.
On Saturday, Jan 21, women, men and children traveled from Manchester to the Women’s March on Washington in Washington D.C. and multiple sister marches held across the country and state joining between 3 and 5 million others marchers.
The Blumenstein family marched in a crowd of 11,000 in Ann Arbor. Kim Blumenstein stated, “The march, was electrifying and emotional. I saw my 10 year old shouting for the end of bigotry and chanting for love not hate. As parents, my husband and I thought it was very important that the girls experienced this, took part in it, and made all of our voices heard. We felt it was important to show them and remind ourselves that it is our right and duty as citizens of the United States to display our freedom of speech and make a stand for equality.”
The Blumenstein Family at the Ann Arbor march. Photo courtesy of the Blumensteins.
Amy Pierce Pyle attended Saturday’s march in Ann Arbor with her family. “The march was a peaceful expression of unity, love, and inclusion,” she stated. “People of all races, ages, genders, and religions came together to express unity and to stand together against a divisive agenda. I was proud to stand with my family and 11,000 other in Ann Arbor to speak out against Hate.”
Photo of Amy Pierce Pyle (left, back row) and her family at the Ann Arbor march. Photo courtesy of Amy Pierce Pyle.
Ann Arbor march. Photo courtesy of Amy Pierce Pyle.
Lori Preis, owner of Fun Discoveries Daycare, attended the Lansing march with and her two friends Colleen Wright and Cara Arheit and 10,000 others. Preis stated, “Lansing had an amazing program schedule with speakers such as Gretchen Whitmer, Gubernatorial candidate, Dr. Farha Abbasi, among many others. I was particularly moved by both Mrs. Whitmer and Mrs. Abbasi speeches. Julie Pulver, the director of Women Organize Michigan and Dana Nessel, the director of Fair Michigan were also amazing speakers. I felt compelled and inspired by them and all the people in attendance, to become more involved in the community of Manchester and the community at large. I look forward to participating in those organizations among others. The Women’s March was day 1 of a long journey with a lot of work that still needs to be done. Work which I look forward to doing.”
“I am a proud woman, who owns and runs a small business that employs other women in this community”, stated Preis (right), shown here with Wright (left) and Arheit (behind). Photo courtesy of Lori Preis.
The Lansing march. Photo courtesy of Lori Preis.
The Lansing march. Photo courtesy on Lori Preis.
The Herrons marched in Lansing as well.
Ivy Herron stated, “I attended the Lansing march with my mother, sister, best friend, and others. It was incredibly empowering, uplifting, and peaceful. The 10,000 of us that attended sang songs, chanted, and waved signs. There wasn’t a single arrest. We stood in solidarity not only for women, but for all groups and individuals who may not have a voice during this presidency. We didn’t cheer because we want Donald Trump to fail as a president- we want to help him succeed in representing, valuing, and helping all Americans.”
Candidate for Michigan Governor, Gretchen Whitmer poses for a photo with MHS student Amelia Herron at the Lansing march. Photo courtesy of Herron Family.
Whitmer stops for a photo with Ivy Herron at the Lansing march. Photo courtesy of Herron family.
Cynthia Every traveled to Lansing for the march.
Cynthia Every (left) attended the Lansing march. She stated, “The reassurance and joy of being with other people that feel that me and my grand daughter and her daughters should be safe and educated and powerful…was beautiful.”
Lansing march. Photo courtesy go Cynthia Every.
Laura Billetdeaux traveled to New York and marched with her son Sam and a crowd of 400,000 to 500,000.
Laura Billetdeaux and son Sam in New York City march. “What a privilege to March in NYC with my son, Sam, and his friends. It was a life-shaping experience,” she stated. Photo courtesy of Laura Billetdeaux.
Sam holding up sign in New York City march. Photo courtesy of Laura Billetdeaux.
JoAnn Okey attended the Washington DC march with a crowd estimated anywhere from 500,000 to 1,000,000. She stated, “Washington was the same utterly amazing experience that so many across the country, in marches and at home, felt.”
JoAnn Okey (right) at the Washington DC march. “We may all be ‘special snowflakes’, but together we form a blizzard,” she stated. Photo courtesy of JoAnn Okey.
Amber Houttekier traveled by bus to Washington D.C. with 55 others from Manchester and across south-east Michigan. “There is so much that I could say about the experience,” Houttekier stated. “I participated in the Women’s March on Washington for my conscience. As a mother (especially as a mother of girls), my conscience cannot allow me to stand silent as history regresses in such vital issues as climate change; women’s choice over their bodies; sexual harassment and abuse; racism and bigotry; and access to viable, inclusive, affordable health care for all. Participation in the Women’s March verified overwhelmingly how many others around the world share my values and expectation that our leaders meet our needs on these and other vital topics. It was an emotional and sensory experience as the protesters gathered to hear inspiring and powerful speakers; the shoulder to shoulder crowd was dense, but considerate, kind and peaceful. Mothers carried young babies and families ushered children safely through the crowd.
“As the march began, the participation was too immense to be contained to the original march route along Independence Avenue. Instead people of all nationalities, both genders, and all ages, bearing detailed hand crafted signs and chanting for preservation of human rights, moved calmly west toward the White House on every available street from Independence Avenue to farther north than Constitution Avenue. We moved steadily to the White House, passing the Washington monument, Smithsonian, Mall and paraphernalia of the prior day’s inauguration. A poignant moment for me occurred as I realized my back was pressed against the formidable wall of the US Treasury. Strong feelings welled as I realized how our tax dollars may be used by this administration. At that moment, the crowd, which had continued north adjacent to the White House, swelled in a deafening cry of reminder that our voices are real, strong, and will not go away.
“It should be noted that, as I understand, no arrests or violence occurred with participants of the Women’s March. Anarchy and vandalism protesters of the prior day were not affiliated with the March. It is a profound statement that a gathering of such magnitude can be conducted in nonviolence, with a clear message to our country’s leaders. The physical experience of being carried peacefully along in a surge of people chanting a deafening cry for the preservation of our rights by the new administration is one I will never forget.”
Photo courtesy of Amber Houttekier, pictured here in the pink hat next to her friend, Debbie Wollard. Houttekier stated, “The now infamous pink pussy hats served as a humorous, satirical badge of unification for citizens that are unwilling to remain silent in a seemingly regressive political regime.”
Photo courtesy of Amber Houttekier.”
Washington DC march. “The kindness and patience of people was astounding,” Houttekier stated, “I met people from Missouri, Vermont, Florida … many of an age that recall the civil rights movement and women’s liberation movement. All of whom refuse to return to that state of inhumanity.” Photo courtesy of Amber Houttekier.
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