Roughly 200 people gathered in Lander on the cold, sunny morning of Jan. 18 to take part in the 2020 Women’s March.
Men, women and children of all ages — the smallest riding in wagons and strollers — walked 10 blocks down Main Street holding signs that advocated equality, reproductive rights and climate-change action. The procession ended at a pocket park, where speakers addressed issues like missing and murdered indigenous women, domestic violence, LGBTQ+ rights and civic engagement.
It was a great turnout of energized folks, organizer Cristina Gonzalez said.
“I think a lot of the march-goers wanted to let it be known that: ‘I’m going to show up at the 2020 election ready to make a change,’” Gonzalez said.
The Lander march was one iteration of a national event that took place across the country — from Washington, D.C. to Seattle and Cheyenne. The first march, which took place the day after President Donald Trump was inaugurated in 2017, drew hundreds of thousands of people in events around the world.
The event has since hit turbulence, facing criticism for losing focus and a lack of diversity among its leaders. This year, the march returned with a new board and a theme of “women rising.”
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Gonzalez said 2020 presents an opportunity to assess the progress that’s been made and keep moving forward. She sees people like the Lander marchers translating information on issues like impeachment and #metoo into action.
“People are really starting to take that information and turn it into power,” Gonzalez said.