On Saturday, January 18th, 2020, the fourth official wave of women’s marches paraded across the country. Around the globe, women have grappled with setbacks in their inherent rights as citizens and freedoms as human beings.

Through nonviolent protests and informative speeches on the issues pervading America, the mission of the Women’s March is to “harness the political power of diverse women and their communities to create transformative social change.”

On January 21, 2017, more than 3 million people across the country joined in on the first national women’s march in response to President Trump’s inauguration. The signature “pussy hats” and the color pink represents the empowerment of women today. Various sister marches spread to other countries including Antarctica, Zimbabwe, and Spain as well.

This year’s Women’s March saw a spike in sign ups for the upcoming march as President Trump faces the ongoing impeachment process. Additionally, the rising tensions between the U.S. and Iran due to the killing of their military general, Qasem Soleimani, has also brought about the hashtag “#NoWarWithIran,” prompting many to take the streets this Saturday in protest.

For the 2020 route, protestors gathered… “at Freedom Plaza in downtown Washington to walk a well-worn path to the White House,” according to the Washington Post. Idaho had its own march toward the capitol building beginning at 9 a.m., along with other states and countries who have organized their own marches to stand tall with Washington once again.

The week prior to the actual march, a series of events took place in D.C., ranging from “a story slam, brunch with drag queens…” and conversations centering around sustained issues women and minority groups experience under the current administration. There was the “Solidarity and the Immigration Justice Movement,” which aimed to educate and bring together those who fight for immigrant justice. Another event known as the “Youth Rising 2020” also encouraged young activists to meet and speak with experienced activists.

Fiona Martinez, a BHS senior, experienced first-hand how powerful and united these crowds made her feel, a significant factor being the sheer amount of people who showed up in support of the movement. She described the scene as “…incredibly inspiring and empowering.”

Martinez believes women today “…are still oppressed by the centuries old idea…[they] are not as intelligent…and deserving of respect as men.”

This is prevalent in the persistent pay gap that has women consistently earning less than their male counterparts despite similar work conditions. It is characteristic in the unaccommodating circumstances certain jobs provide for maternity leave and the lack of female director nominations in award shows such as the Oscars.

The U.S. is known for leading equality movements on the global stage. Martinez upheld that America sets an important example for other countries around the world. This includes speaking out in hopes of instigating change in government. While the number of opportunities for women to partake in have grown immensely compared to ten, twenty, and thirty years ago – with more women in leadership, challenging the expectations society once limited them to – Martinez insists that there has still not been  enough push to address national issues at their roots.

Regarding current U.S. policy and overall attitude, the senior said, “We need to be doing more to set an example of America as the true democratic country it aspires to be.”

These marches are not a device to solely protest Trump’s presidency, nor are they targeted toward one specific individual or group.

They are, however, used as a platform to speak out against the injustices women have experienced throughout history, and continue to face today. They condemn sexism and sexual harassment in workplaces, propelled by the #MeToo movement. They are an attack on terrorism and climate change, contributing to the fight for universal rights.

These marches to the White House and through numerous cities across the nation are just one of the many demands for further action in establishing an administration that guarantees freedoms for all. Everyone is invited to participate in these calls for reform, and as Martinez put it, “It’s an opportunity everyone should have.”