>The Women’s March in midtown Manhattan on Saturday, March 8, embodied a shared anger towards the Trump administration’s exploitation of power, according to protesters.
“I feel like our democracy and our free press is now in hospice,” said Alyce Wittenstein, a marcher wearing a pink shirt, with beaded pink jewelry to match. “My motto is protest, post, repeat. We have to get it out there because the media has been suppressed.”
On March 8th, International Women’s Day, marchers gathered in Washington Square Park, pressed shoulder to shoulder from the park’s west side to its central fountain. A drum beat kept rhythm as the crowd chanted, “We’re not going back!” Many held homemade signs. “Nyet Comrade Trumpski,” said one. “Be Glad We Just Want Equality,” said another in blood-red paint. LGBTQ+ pride flags waved above the crowd.
Wittenstein fears the Trump administration wants the United States’ political system to mimic Putin’s Russia. She notices major press outlets falling victim to lawsuits, diminishing their power and setting a dangerous precedent.
“They whitewash it, they normalize it, they sane-wash it,” said Jean Citarella on the press’s coverage of President Trump. Citarella, whose sign depicted Trump and Hitler as mirror images, added, “As we head towards fascism, neutrality is complicity.”
By Eleina Dent/Cooper Squared
Donald Trump has succeeded in penalizing the media for perceived wrongdoing. His defamation lawsuit against ABC News, Inc. and George Stephanopoulos resulted in ABC agreeing to pay $1 million of Trump’s legal fees and contribute $15 million towards his presidential library as a settlement.
Meta also settled a lawsuit with Trump, who claimed that Facebook violated his rights by engaging in “censorship” when the company suspended his account after the January 6th Capital riot. CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced in January that he would end third-party fact checking on Meta social media platforms in hopes of “restoring free expression.”
“Everybody is eliminating DEI these days because it’s sexy, and because they bend down and kiss the ring,” said Marcia, a marcher who was introduced to boycotts of companies like Amazon and Walmart on Whatsapp.
In January, President Trump signed an executive order with the intent of terminating “illegal and immoral” federal “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) initiatives. Some companies have taken similar action to reverse their own DEI-related policies and practices. In a memo obtained by CNBC, Amazon’s VP of inclusive experiences and technology stated the company would “widdle-down outdated programs and materials” by 2025. When asked to confirm or deny whether Walmart would stop giving priority to certain distributors based on diversity, Walmart U.S. CEO Jon Furner told CBS News the company was focused on “belonging.”
“Silence is consent. So we have to stand up. If we stand for nothing, we fall for everything. You have to stand up,” added Marcia, on the importance of attending events like the Women’s March.
The march, beginning in Washington Square Park and ending in Union Square, was organized by volunteers working alongside the Women’s March and Rise and Resist organizations. Women’s March is a feminist-led movement that coordinates resistance against sexism and oppression, and Rise and Resist is a non-profit activist organization. One organizer, a freshman at NYU, intended for the march to fight for the future of America’s children, saying, “We wanna make this future good for them, we’re thinking of them when they grow up.” The same organizer orchestrated a few speeches at the beginning of the march, hoping to give a platform to a variety of viewpoints, like that of Diana Adams, a lawyer who advocates for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. Kim Russell, Creative Director of the Women’s March organization, also spoke, before the marchers left the park chanting, “The people united will never be divided!”
“We get the government we deserve. So if people sit around on their butts we’re gonna go to hell in a handbasket,” said Claire, another marcher, noting that she hopes those who remain passive will realize their power. “I’m not scared, because I’m tired.”