No, I'm not a crybaby. No, I'm not ignoring the plight of women in different countries. No, my privilege does not negate my right to protest. Today, I experienced something absolutely beautiful. I, along with millions of other women, marched: marched to protest the injustices that still highly reside in our country. This definitely was helped along by the Trump presidency, but justice has failed many people in this country, and that is what we are fighting for. Someone asked me, "What rights do you not have that a man does have?" To them I say, "As well as marching for myself, I'm marching for every human who has ever been denied the right to education, freedom, and the american dream because of the color of their skin, gender, sexual orientation, religion or immigration status." I also fight for my right to be an educated female who should not have to fear my bodily rights being rescinded. I fight for my right to be in the political sphere of the US. I fight for my right to be heard.
Standing in a crowd of strong, beautiful, independent women all gathered in the streets of downtown memphis is something to behold. In that moment, I forgot the mean social media comments that have befallen the videos of protest, and remembered exactly what future I am believing in: the same future Dr. King so strongly believed in--a future where all people are created equal.
I find it terribly saddening to see so many people so terribly opposed to a fight for change. It hurts to see women not believing in their full potential because the President of the United States believes they are so less than that he can grab them by the genitals, degrade them, and base their worth completely on the way they look.
I wish that the protests stayed peaceful everywhere, but the violence is not the narrative of so many people fighting on this day and for the next four years. To base an entire movement on the ignorance of few is what the other side is also fighting so adamantly against. If you want me to believe you are not a bad person, do not assume I'm like the violent disrespectful protesters you see in the media.
Black lives matter.
Muslim lives matter.
Gender and Sexual minority lives matter.
Immigrant lives matter.
Women's lives matter.
All this saying white christian male and female lives matter as well. We do not disown you. We welcome you. These movements are about love. We love you and we will not let hate win.
