An estimated 10,000 Ithacans came together on January 21 for the Women’s March on Ithaca, which was held in solidarity with the Women’s March on Washington. This turnout was about 7,100 more than anticipated by the organizers, a trend that paralleled that of the March on Washington. The march began at Ithaca City Hall and ended at the Ithaca Commons, where speakers and musicians roused the crowds of passionate, pink-hatted protestors that filled the area.
The considerable size of the Women’s March—around a third of Ithaca’s population—shows the inclusive and progressive nature of the Ithacan community. It gave those who felt frustrated with the results of the election, among countless other issues, a chance to raise their voice. It allowed those unable to travel to Washington an alternate outlet. There was an interconnectedness and energy within the march that was felt by many for the first time since the election. Many people’s feelings of frustration and helplessness were channeled into this peaceful demonstration.
Protesters carried multicolored signs reading “Women bring down Walls,” “Resist,” and “Dump Trump,” as well as famous quotes from Martin Luther King Jr. and Malala Yousafzai. People also carried signs reading, ”My body, my choice” and “I stand with Planned Parenthood,” though not everyone agreed with these statements.
There were two groups of counter-protesters, each with contrasting methods of spreading their message. One group stood silently outside of Immaculate Conception and Beverly J Martin Elementary School, holding up signs with their pro-life message. The marchers chose to quietly ignore them and let them share their point of view.
The other group of counter-protesters, located across from the State Theatre, chose a more provocative technique. They verbally voiced their views and held signs that read “Planned Parenthood murdered 323,999 babies in 2014,” and “Choice,” with a graphic picture of an aborted fetus. Their actions prompted a protester to cover the graphic sign with his jacket. After doing so, he was asked a by a nearby police officer to remove his jacket, the sign being the pro-life activist’s property. The protester complied, but eventually a large crowd of protesters responded by gathering around and covering the pro-life activist’s image with their own signs. Chants such as “This is what democracy looks like,” “My body, my choice,” and “Love not hate—that’s what makes America great” were held. In the end, the counter-protesters chose to leave.
The first interaction demonstrated the ability of two very different views to coexist without conflict. While more confrontational methods can lead to unwanted and certainly unnecessary conflicts, it can also take away from the true message behind the march itself: not one of dividedness, but rather of equality, social justice, human rights, and holding the government accountable for its actions.
The Women’s March can be summed up with the words of the late author and activist Elie Wiesel: “There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest.” Peaceful protest has proven time after time to be an effective way to bring about positive change and call attention to the critical issues of the time, and that was abundantly clear during the Women’s March.