Asheville Women's March looks to inspire: 'We must take the reins of power'

ASHEVILLE — David Fender's 89-year-old mother was a housewife for most of her life. She was never given a choice to strive for something more, he said, and was told repeatedly by first her father, then her husband, that she was not allowed to work.

"That's what women like my mother were told for ages — you can't do that, you are a housewife," said Fender, who attended the second-annual Women's March in Asheville in his mother's honor. He carried a sign that said, "Gay Roughnecks for Women's Rights."

Along with his family and friends, he marched shoulder-to-shoulder with thousands of women and supporters from Western North Carolina. State Sen. Terry Van Duyn said people joined the event to voice their concerns about the current state of the nation and the world. Hundreds of marches took place around the nation on Saturday.

MORE: Asheville Women's March organizers motivated by "woman wave"

The Asheville march started Saturday morning at Memorial Stadium, where about 3,000 people gathered on the turf field to listen to speakers before walking to Vance Monument. Hundreds of pink beanies altered to have cat ears could be seen bobbing through the crowd and many of the marchers sported bright pink T-shirts with slogans like, "We the People."

Ralliers displayed colorful signs supporting an array of causes — Planned Parenthood, climate change, net neutrality, anti-Trump, DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program), immigration rights, health care, the #metoo movement and, of course, women's rights.

Speakers included Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer; City Councilwoman Sheneika Smith; Michelle Padron of the HomeWard youth poetry team; Gina Collias, who is running for Congress on the Republican ticket in the 10th District; Nikki Harris, of Planned Parenthood; Angelica Wind, executive director of Our Voice, Buncombe county's rape crisis and response agency; and Van Duyn.

Four high school students — Sawyer Taylor-Arnold, Sarah Kate Head, Isabelle Freireich and Aidan Justus — organized this year's women's march in Asheville. They said they were inspired by the #metoo movement to keep the momentum for women's rights surging into the future.

Wind delivered her speech first in Spanish, then translated it to English, and said it was out of respect for the Spanish speaking communities who are being profiled and targeted by President Donald Trump.

"Our voices only grow stronger, we will stand up against patriarchy, racism, transphobia and all the other oppression that contribute to sexual violence," Wind said. "Today we say to these policy makers that time's up and enough is enough."

This year's nationwide Women's March advertised a more practical focus. Fueled by the #metoo movement, many marchers discussed new tactics to end sexual violence against women and within the LGBTQ community. Women's March organizers took to Facebook to remind everyone that the march is also about empowering minority groups, like women, to run for office — first locally, then nationally.

"It is not enough to speak out. We must take the reins of power to make a difference," Van Duyn said in her speech. "Stay active, run for offices, call me if you're so inclined and I will help. And if that's not your interest, then find candidates who will stand against tyranny."

At the end of Van Duyn's speech, she started chanting the word "vote" until the entire crowd chorused with her, erupting in cheers.

Later, marchers peacefully walked up the sidewalks of Biltmore Avenue, chanting, drumming and singing.

Phoebe Kilby, 65, was marching alone. She was wearing a pink hat with ears and carrying a small sign that said, "Respect for All."

"I attended the march in D.C. last year, so I came out again today to keep the momentum moving forward," she said. "I am constantly inspired by older people like me who are still coming out to march."

Kilby said she's been a feminist since the 1960s and has been marching for different causes for over 40 years. She was so dedicated to the feminist movement that in her first marriage, she made her husband sign a feminist contract beforehand to remind him that she was his equal, she said.

A teacher and activist, Cody Hughey was marching with her friend, Kara Herr. They marched because of how ashamed they were of the leaders on Capitol Hill, Hughey said.

"What's happening right now is our karmic lesson after years of apathy that led to the GOP takeover by extremists," Hughey said. "As a teacher, I have to come out and be active to inspire my students to do the same."

Three Asheville women walked towards Pack Square Park carrying upturned broomsticks with signs attached that read, "Clean Sweep."

"Women and minorities need to start running for public office at the local level to reach the national level," Nancy Little said. "It is our time."

Ramsey Lab was marching to call attention to transgender rights, especially trans women. He was dressed in a blue skirt, white blouse and was wearing a giant blue flower bow-tie around his neck. To top it off, he had a matching blue wig and was holding a sign that said, "Trans Women Matter."

After arriving at Vance Monument, Mary Driscoll looked at Willie Yang and Sophia Pearson, both 17, and told them how inspired she was by their spirit.

"I am out here today marching because we have come so far and now we have lost so much so fast," Driscoll said. "But I see these young women and I am so grateful for them."

Pearson said it is important for young women to march because the future they are fighting for will soon be theirs.

"We are the future, the future is now, and we have to stand together and let our leaders know that this current state of things is not OK," she said.