Cincinnati Women's March: 'Fighting for our daughters'

On the one-year anniversary of Donald J. Trump's presidency, thousands of people marched Saturday in the streets of Cincinnati to denounce his views and his administration.

The marchers gathered at noon outside the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center for the second Cincinnati Women's March, organized by United We Stand.

Participants walked along to the beat of songs like Aretha Franklin's "Respect" while chants such as, "We need a leader, not a creepy tweeter!" filled the air.

Shouted refrains included "Love, not hate, makes America great!" and "Love, not fear, everybody's welcome here!"

Signs raised high into the sky displayed messages such as "Our Rights Are Not Up For Grabs," "I Will Not Go Quietly Back to 1950" and "My Outrage Cannot Fit On This Sign."

Donna Boutilier of Symmes Township and Molly Fitzmauricle of Loveland both had traveled to the women's march in Washington D.C. last year.

"I have three daughters, I march for them and a better world," Boutilier said. "Here we are again, fighting for our daughters, our rights, but more so our daughter's rights as women."

Some participants said the actions taken by the Trump administration in its first year provided more reason to march than in January 2017.

"We just can't treat our allies this way and we can't treat our citizens this way," said Rob Gee of Bethel.

"The hostage holding of CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program) and DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) program with the continuing resolution is driving me nuts."

A deal for a short-term spending bill could not be struck between Trump and Senate Democrats and Republicans Friday as the government headed into a partial shutdown over the weekend.

Democrats wanted to pass legislation to provide a path forward to citizenship for an estimated 700,000 DACA recipients, while Trump wanted Republicans to put language into the deal to help fund his border wall.

Ginny Southgate of Covington didn't attend last year's march but said she wanted to protest the Trump administration's views towards women and minorities.

"I don't care about the Democratic agenda, I really don't," Southgate said. "I'm much more interested in making sure that the people's voices are heard. Men, women, gay, straight, I don't care. Equal protection under the law is not happening, and I hope that we move in that protection."

She said this is about more than simply herself.

"I don't feel particularly oppressed but I want to make sure to stand here with all the women around and say, 'for whatever you're climbing to do, I've got your back,'" Southgate said.

The Cincinnati march was one of hundreds held across the country, organized by the national group, Women's March Inc. The NY Times reported as many as 120,000 protesters attended the march in New York City.

Here, those in attendance stepped off from the Freedom Center just after 1:30 p.m. Saturday. The 1.5-mile march took them north on Race Street and back to the Freedom Center via Vine Street.

Before the march began, performers and speakers were featured at a stage located at Walnut St. and East Freedom Way. The crowd extended as far as the eye could see along West Freedom Way to Race Street.

More: 'Grab Him by the Mid-terms': Women's marches push power of the vote

Nearly one year ago, on Jan. 21, 2017 - President Trump's first full day in office - thousands of women, men and children filled Over-the-Rhine's Washington Park to show unity and solidarity with the "Women's March on Washington" held in the nation's capital.

While the Women's March last year focused on protesting the election and inauguration of President Trump, this year’s march focused on mobilizing both registered and non-registered voters for the November midterm elections.

The slogan for this year's march in Cincinnati was "Hear Our Vote," mirroring the national slogan "Power to the Polls." Women's March Inc. plan to kickoff a national voter registration tour in Las Vegas on Sunday.

Marchers were joined by performers including Rhythm Dancers, Dance Flash Fusion, MUSE, the Cincinnati Women's Choir and Cincinnati collective BLVCK SEEDS' Aziz Love and Siri Amani.

At the stage, keynote speakers Sandy Theis, Executive Director of ProgressOhio, and grassroots advocate Portia Boulger energized the vast crowd. Representatives from Women Helping Women, Interfaith Hospitality Network of Greater Cincinnati and former Cincinnati City Council candidates Lesley Jones and Michelle Dillingham also spoke.

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