The opinions expressed in this article are the author's own and do not reflect the views of Her Campus.
Marching on Saturday with almost three million of my fellow activists, advocates, and allies was an experience I’ll never forget. I marched in Boston, MA, a generally progressive and Democratic city in a fairly blue state. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, Attorney General Maura Healey, and Mayor Marty Walsh all spoke, reminding the state and country as a whole that Massachusetts political leaders are behind women, the progressive movement, and opposing the Trump administration’s dangerous policy proposals. The mood was of strength and togetherness and passion.
But what comes next?
There were a lot of attendees at the Boston March who seemed more interested in selfies and Snapchats than the political messages sent by many of the speakers. At one point, a band on stage commented on how we, “throw one hell of a party.” Massachusetts can feel like an echo chamber, allowing people to engage in comfortable complacency; our elected officials almost always share the progressive movement’s positions.
I worry that this local march will not have the kind of catalyzing political impact it needed to have. Just because Massachusetts has been a liberal bastion for decades doesn't necessarily mean it will stay that way. Governor Charlie Baker has issued detrimental budget cuts that will decimate social services for our state’s most vulnerable populations, but residents of our state can feel like there’s nothing local for them to engage in politically. I’ve heard more than one person defend their decision not to vote because, “it’s Massachusetts—it’ll go blue no matter how I vote.” Because Massachusetts is home to so many students from out of state, many don't engage in the voting process because the lack of civic education in our country leaves many confused as to how to acquire an absentee ballot, or re-register at a new address.
While the Women’s March was an amazing experience and a reminder that there are millions of people who believe in causes like women’s rights, ending racism, and defending the country against the reign of terror that is a Trump administration, I worry that the passion will fizzle out. Political activism is more than showing up on an unseasonably warm January morning and hanging out with 175,000 of your closest friends with cool signs and cooler photo opps.
Political activism is calling senators from districts you are not a part of to register your complaints as a concerned citizen. Political activism is reading books and research articles and news reports every single day. Political activism is taking the time to thank elected officials for bringing your views to the Congressional floor. Political activism is donating not only to your local Planned Parenthood, but to the few and far between Planned Parenthood locations in conservative states that restrict access to women's health services, like Texas, Tennessee, and Mississippi. Political activism is showing up for Black Lives Matter, for Standing Rock, for anti-Islamophobia, for trans activism. Political activism is being willing to risk more than a free Saturday for the causes you believe in.
I applaud each and every person who came out for a Women’s March all over the country and the world. But I challenge those people to continue to show up. I challenge people to continue to show up even when it’s inconvenient, when it’s less glamorous, when there aren’t celebrity speakers, when there aren’t photo oops, when it’s costly, when it’s less public.
While this article is a way for me to call others to action, it’s a way to hold myself accountable as well. I will be attending events in my community in solidarity with Black Lives Matter, the Muslim community, the trans community, and the working class and poor communities. I will be attending teach-ins so I as a future educator can be better for all my students. I will be reading books that push me to think outside my college educatedness/whiteness/cisness/straightness/femaleness. I will be engaging in difficult conversations with friends, family, colleagues, and peers even when it’s uncomfortable. I will probably stumble and fail along the way. But if I don’t continue to show up, what was the March even for?
Below are some resources for actionable steps you can take to stay engaged: