Thousands of people brave frigid temperatures Jan. 18 for the People’s March in Washington, D.C. (Image: Kathryn Reed)

As a white woman of a certain age, I’m mostly invisible to the world. Somehow, my time has come and gone—or so say the generations behind me who find me irrelevant, the advertisers who only want to push health care products on me, the media and others who have put me out to pasture.

Not so fast, I say.

One reason I attended the People’s March in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 18 was to stand up and be counted. Organizers expected 50,000 at our nation’s capital that day, with hundreds of other protests throughout the country.

Peaceful protesters fill the streets of the nation’s capital on Jan. 18. (Image: Kathryn Reed)

No one anticipated this event to rival the throngs who took to the streets eight years ago before Trump’s first inauguration. In 2017, the D.C. rally brought out more than 500,000 marchers, mostly women considering it was called the Women’s March. In all, the millions who participated throughout the United States made that one of the largest single-day demonstrations.

“In 2017 we made history, and today we are here to make our future. Today, we have a choice to accept a future that is forced on us or to fight for the future that we want,” Tamika Middleton, managing director of the Women’s March, told those of us gathered in front of the Lincoln Memorial on Saturday.

Stephanie and Kae showing solidarity during the Jan. 18 People’s March. (Image: Kathryn Reed)

I needed to be part of something bigger than myself. I needed to be with like-minded people. I needed to show the world I’m paying attention, I care, I want to make a difference.

I shared this incredible experience with Stephanie, a friend since working together in college; but who I had not seen in 19 years. We won’t be waiting that long again to create new memories.

We chanted “my body, my choice” with the men appropriately saying “her body, her choice.”

Throughout the day of the march and on the plane home I proudly wore the scarf Planned Parenthood handed out. People wrote what the organization means to them, then posted the stickers on the organization’s vehicle. I thanked them for being there when I needed birth control.

This woman’s sign does not mince words. (Image: Kathryn Reed)

Creative signs filled the streets:

• Elect a clown, expect a circus
• The hardest decision a woman can make isn’t yours
• I’ve seen better cabinets @ Ikea
• We’ll be back for the midterms
• Hate never made anything great
• If I wanted politics in my uterus, I’d fuck a senator
• Did you buy the planet dinner before you fucked it?
• Don’t like abortion? Ignore it like you ignore climate change & school shootings
• Make presidents great again, get felons and money out of politics
• Anything you can do I can do bleeding
• A lot of y’all didn’t Google tariffs and it fucking shows
• We are the voices of women who no longer have one
• The government shouldn’t care what’s in your pants
• Sex offenders cannot live in government housing
• If Trump gets dementia, how would you know?

For those wondering why people march, the opposition is threatening and very vocal. (Image: Kathryn Reed)

The march was the apex of a few days in our nation’s capital where I spent time mostly touring museums I was seeing for the first time. How appropriate to go to the National Archives to look at the original Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Declaration of Independence.

Important documents whose relevance seem in jeopardy. This article explains how Trump wants to subvert the Constitution.

We were emotionally drained after a day divided between the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

Both made me wonder if we have learned anything or if history is about to repeat itself. Too many eerie similarities between what Hitler and Trump say and do.

People’s March participants meet at one of three start locations before the procession merges into one throng. (Image: Kathryn Reed)

We weren’t sure what to make of the individuals wearing MAGA gear. What were they taking away from the Holocaust Museum? If they could see the parallels between Germany and the U.S. today, maybe they would better understand why many of us are so scared.

While it’s a journalist’s credo not to participate in events like the march, to not sign petitions, to not have political yard signs or bumper stickers on vehicles, I’ve had enough.

I agree with the credo, but I’m far from being a cub reporter. I’m neither building my reputation nor my resume. I know I can write unbiased stories when I have strong beliefs on the subject matter. Heck, I’ve even written editorials and endorsements I didn’t agree with. It’s all about doing a job.

Speakers rally the masses at the end of the march at the Lincoln Memorial. (Image: Kathryn Reed)

I understand many people don’t believe this is possible. That’s fine. It’s also one reason why they aren’t journalists. Good journalists don’t bring their opinions to the office. Still, just to be safe, I let the editors I write for most often know what I was doing.

What I did was march for what I believe in—women’s rights, reproduction rights, immigrants’ rights, LGBTQ rights, BLM, the earth (aka climate change), and so much more.

I’m not done fighting. I’m going to make sure my voice is heard. I’m going to be relevant. I’ll be making more donations. I’ll be more active. I’m definitely no longer going to be invisible.

For those interested in being part of the solution, check out this link.