“At the time I was arrested I had no idea it would turn into this. It was just a day like any other day. The only thing that made it significant was that the masses of the people joined in.” – Rosa Parks, Montgomery, Alabama, 1955.

There is nothing more threatening to a man than a woman who knows her own power and will not back down from a fight.

Over the last few weeks we’ve seen the sweeping outrage of women across the nation in response to the nomination – and confirmation – of Brett Kavanaugh to the supreme court. Kavanagh was accused of sexual assault by a girl he knew in high school – more than 30 years ago – and he was ultimately confirmed.

Though the Senate paid lip service to the assault claims by requesting a brief FBI investigation before the vote, multiple witnesses were not interviewed by the FBI during what many lawmakers called a sham FBI investigation.

Women are very angry – for good reason. The upsurge in support for women’s rights has terrified the Trump administration, and they’ve been working furiously to push a dishonest narrative to invalidate and down-splain our powerful demonstrations.

Every lawmaker who continues to advance policies that harm women, workers, the environment, and our democracy will pay the price at the ballot box

Every lawmaker who continues to do this, or to advance policies that harm women, workers, the environment, and our democracy will pay the price at the ballot box. Because women are outraged, and they will turn out to vote in force to replace them in Congress and throughout the federal government. A recent CNN poll shows women are breaking 2:1 for Democrats. 63% of women are now planning to vote for Democrats – setting us up to possibly smash the previous record of 58% in 1982.

In typical fashion, the White House and rightwing commentators have misconstrued these democratic actions, accusing the women and men who engaged in civil disobedience over the last few weeks in DC as being members of a “mob” that threatens public safety. Nothing could be further from the truth. Direct action is what democracy looks like – even when we bring it to the US Capitol and the supreme court.

“You can’t stay at home when something like this is going on,” said Angela Trzepkowski, who travelled from Delaware to participate in the protest. “Women are feeling empowered and stronger, and it’s no longer going to be the good ol’ white boys’ club. It can’t be any more.”

We’ve sat with these women freedom fighters, eaten with them, and cried with them. There is no mob. There is only a movement of millions of people who believe in justice, equality and democracy – and we are following in the footsteps of those who practiced nonviolent political protest: Gandhi, Dr Martin Luther King Jr, Fanny Lou Hamer, Congressman John Lewis and Dolores Huerta.

Over the last five weeks, tens of thousands of people traveled to DC to demonstrate against Trump, and more than 3,500 people were trained by Women’s March and our partners in nonviolent civil disobedience. We held rallies and press conferences. Police arrested hundreds of activists: 1,259 to be precise. During this process, tens of thousands of women found their voice and confidence to publicly share their own stories of survival.

Women’s March activists have a clear message: we are strategic, we are focused, and we are a threat to your grip on power. We are taking back what you have stolen.

Our activism is having an impact leading up to the midterms. According to a recent CNN poll, 63% of women say they will vote for a Democratic candidate. Republicans are likely going to lose more than a dozen house seats to Democrats this November. This data shows what we already know to be true.

According to a recent CNN poll, 63% of women say they will vote for a Democratic candidate

Women are outraged and they will turn out to vote in force. Every lawmaker who continues to advance policies that harm women, workers, the environment and our democracy will pay the price at the ballot box.

As disgraceful as the current attempts by the White House and Republican garbage-pundits to paint us as “screamers” and “paid protesters” and “the mob” are, in truth they indicate a deep underlying fear – fear of women leaders who cannot be stopped. We see them and we’re going to replace them in Congress and throughout the federal government.

We are a national grassroots movement, led by women, not beholden to institutional or corporate interests. We have more than 50 state chapters and 170 youth chapters. We have more than 1.5 million members – women and our allies – and we are more organized than we’ve ever been.

The #WomensWave is coming, and we’re sweeping the world forward with us. Go here to find a march near you.