Marching on Washington

Jeanne Conner, 57, former development director of the Bennington Museum; Bennington, VT: I’m extremely worried about the people of this country, people of color, immigrants, as well as women. I’m very worried about Supreme Court nominations, the environment, and Trump’s unwillingness to accept the science dealing with climate change. And I have to do something about it, so I’m willing to spend the money, and a couple of days, to protest.

Mary Natalizia, 61, retired public school teacher and Williamstown march organizer with son-in-law Alexander Davis, 33, public high school English teacher; Williamstown, MA: I was so upset with Trump’s comments about women caught on tape. That was really the breaking point. And when he was actually elected, despite all of those awful disrespectful things … I was beside myself. And so as soon as I heard about the women’s march, I immediately booked a bus. I have to thank Trump for waking activism in me. I never thought I’d march on Washington.

Alexander: I believe that women’s rights are human rights. I’m going to support all the women in my life. I’m going because I have a mother, a mother-in-law, a wife, a four-and-a-half-year-old daughter. When any human being is demeaned, it lessens all of us.

Leah Pesce, 64, retired school psychologist; spouse Vincent Pesce, 65, retired high school science teacher; daughter-in-law Anya Pesce (seated), 36, student and mother; Williamstown, MA

Anya: I want my children, especially my daughter, to have the same rights that I do. I believe that everybody has the right to love and to decide what to do with their bodies. I don’t believe that the government should have a say in the control of those things. I’m originally from Russia. When I first came here, when I was 12, I was actually an illegal immigrant until I got a green card. This country provides hope for so many people. And I’m worried that might be taken away.

Vincent: For as long as I can remember, I’ve felt that women don’t get nearly the respect that they deserve. We should be finding leaders who strive for more dignity and respect for all people, rather than less.

Leah: I’ve spent years being apathetic, sitting by the side, just complaining or bemoaning, and now I feel like I need to get involved. This march is very important to be a part of, even if we’re just standing and staring at each other. We’re taking a stand.

Sherri Dehaas, 51, family medicine physician; Bennington, VT: As a physician, as a Hispanic woman, I feel like I have something to say. I thought I said it when I voted, but it wasn’t heard. And so now I’m going to say it along with the other women who are going to D.C. And we’re going to say it by being present and being together. I want to say that we have rights and that they won’t be taken away from us. I want to say that everybody matters. That includes women, that includes the LGBT community, that includes Hispanics, that includes people of color, people of different religions, people of different ethnicities. We all matter. We all have rights, and we’re not going to have them taken away. And we’re going to make sure everybody hears this.

Kathy Cichanowski, 74, (left) with friend and neighbor Pam Coffield, 64; Bennington, VT: I’m at the point in my life when I have the time to march, the conviction to march, and I want to use it as an example for my children and my grandchildren. When you believe in something you need to do something. If not now, when?

Pam: I’m just so devastated over what has happened to our country and feel we have to take a stand and put into motion what we believe in. My grandchildren are scared for us. And it’s really sad to think that a nine- and 11-year old are worried, and said “What if people drive into you?” or “What if someone shoots at you?”

Sue Sweeney, 57, (left), with spouse Rose-Marie Pelletier, 68; Pownal, VT: I’m very concerned about the state of our union, and I want to be part of this bigger effort. I’m concerned about the way that the country is going right now.

Rose-Marie: I’m going to the march because I think that whenever you hold something dear, you have to be willing to stand up for it. I thought my marching days were over. I spent the ’60s in the south, and I know these kinds of gatherings can make a difference. Not only do you stand up for what you believe and bear witness to it, but it also reinforces your own beliefs to be with other people who feel that way too. I thought that we didn’t need to keep fighting, but we do. The hatred that’s been lying dormant for a while is now resurfacing.

The group that met in Bennington, VT, and who will be traveling together by bus.