THIS IS MY STORY

Story #1

My fondest memory of the March for Women's Lives in D.C. is a tall, well-built African-American male about age 25 wearing a pink shirt that said, "This is what a feminist looks like." It was the essence of the march. There were men and women of every age, race, nationality - grandmothers in wheelchairs pushing oxygen canisters, babies in strollers, college students, entire families, gays, straights, and everything in between. People tend to have a picture of the "angry feminist" as a thirty-something single woman but here was the whole spectrum of America in D.C. to 'push back.'

I heard later from my brother, who is definitely not pro-choice, that there were many violent confrontations, lots of shouting, profanity, etc. reported on the news. I can honestly say I saw none of that. What I DID see (from a distance) was Hilary Clinton, Ted Turner, Whoopi Goldberg, Camryn Manheim, Cybil Shepard (who really got the crowd going), Ashley Judd, Susan Sarandon, Carole King, Molly Ivins, Ann Richards...and other names not as well known. They were not dressed up for the press or getting the star treatment. They came out in their jeans and T-shirts and spoke unscripted from the heart. Their passion and sincerity really made an impression on me, as I am usually scornful of celebrity culture.

Living here in Texas I don't often get the chance to express my pro-choice views, but for two days I listened to retirees from Montana, homosexuals from New Orleans, college students from Austin and young couples from Pennsylvania express the concerns we all share about this administration. These people may be feminists, but they aren't angry. They're worried and appalled. They're not trying to live some kind of 60's nostalgia moment, which is a charge often leveled at protestors. Like me, they don't want politicians making my most personal healthcare decisions. Or telling me that I can't have birth control because it might lead to 'gasp' sex outside of marriage. Or spreading the lie that emergency contraception 'causes abortion.' And I don't want them telling me to shut up. THEY work for ME. And YOU.

There is nothing this administration would like more than to silence dissent. We have to speak out and keep speaking out. This is an election year and the fate of the world (and our bodies) is literally in our hands. VOTE!

Donna
Dallas

Story #2

My group had a great time and so glad I did not miss that momentous occasion. You cannot fully express the feeling of so many people being together in the same place and the same time for a cause that is so important to me and to the next generation in this country. Many thanks to whoever underwrote the PPNT group.

Helen
Irving

Story #3

I have never considered myself a feminist or an activist and I have never really been involved in politics. I have always left that to everyone else to fight out. When the news of the Women's March first came about, I thought this would be a fun weekend away. The more I heard about the political goings on, the more riled up I became. I could not believe the things that had been going on in the political world against women and their rights.

At the March, I saw over a million women, men and children all standing up for what they believe in. As the mother of an 8-year-old daughter, I hope my daughter will never need an abortion, but if she does, I want that choice to be available to her. The part of the March that I found truly amazing was the number of men that were there supporting our rights. Not often will people stand up for something that doesn't directly affect them. Everyone was so nice and the March was peaceful. I felt honored to be amongst these people. When I returned home and told everyone I know about the March, I felt proud to have gone and fought for my rights and the rights of others.

Krista
Dallas

Story #4

The images of April 25, 2004, will remain with me as part of who I am for the rest of my days. They will tug and inspire; they will agitate and renew; but ultimately the images will be my own.

With a little band of mostly women from Fort Worth and Dallas, I participated in my first public demonstration.

The images easiest to describe are visual–the masses of people, orderly and animated, the majesty of our Capitol with its white buildings and manicured grounds, and the hundreds of thousands of signs and posters of protest, carried by many, then littering the mall for tired marchers to sit upon as they regrouped and listened to speakers after the march. The crowd estimates varied–800,000 being the most commonly reported number. But all agreed it was the largest crowd ever assembled for a rally in Washington. The park service police using helicopter grid counts estimated the crowd at 1.15 million strong!

The feeling of camaraderie with those of like beliefs was refreshing, especially for those of us from conservative parts of the country. The sense of freedom to express one's passion for a woman's right to choose what happens to her body–and to do so without checking who might be listening, who might be offended, who might want to preach to you or argue with you–was truly enlightening, physically and mentally.

I was free of the oppressive sense of not feeling free to speak my own truth. I also felt a sense of awe being in the center of our seat of government; it was both powerful and humbling. Surrounded by the houses of the democracy–that same democracy that allowed us the freedom to be there assembled together, we protested the injustices we see emanating from those same institutions. Women's health is threatened by the politics of the day. The feelings of inspiration and renewed strength to fight the fight are balanced by the cautions of reality.

I was there to be counted. I was there for myself and am glad. I was there for my granddaughters, for their rights, for their health, and for the legacy of a grandmother who speaks and lives her truth.

Margaret
Fort Worth

Story #5

Sunday morning, in line to get my breakfast, and wearing my "Don't Mess with Texas Women" shirt, I was asked by the woman behind me if I really was from Texas. She was from Tennessee and she exclaimed, "We thought everyone in Texas was [anti-choice]!" I assured her I was from Texas, was NOT [anti-choice] and not only that, but there were 1000 Texans here for the March.

Similar reactions happened all weekend and one of my friends reported that even the Houston delegation was surprised that there were marchers from Dallas! I can only hope our presence there made it clear to EVERYONE that stereotypes often don't fit!

Pro-choice IS pro-family!

Rusty
Dallas

Story #6

My 85-year-old mother, my two cousins, one from Ohio and one from Kansas, my son, his wife, and her mother joined me in Washington for the march. My daughter would have loved to come too, but couldn't get there. It was a wonderful day, and we all felt very encouraged to see so many other people who feel as strongly as we do about these issues. I only hope that we can keep the momentum going.

Terri
Fort Worth

Story #7

Planned Parenthood,

Thank you for making the March for Women one of the most memorable experiences of my lifetime. Thanks, too, to the underwriting that made this trip available to so many of us. Your directions, planning, and leadership were excellent. Our trip - there were four of us - was as smooth as silk. The accommodations were terrific. I was so happy to have my husband, Tom, my son, Jon, and his girlfriend join with me and the other million participants.

Is there a realistic count? The reported 500,000 + must be an understatement. We jumped out of line and went up to the top of the Washington Hotel to see the spectacular panorama of people. If there weren't more than 1,000,000 people, I need glasses. The throng had filled the mall and the entire march route was still completely full back to the beginning. It was simply awesome.

We were overwhelmed by the courtesy and camaraderie expressed by all the participants toward each other - the Republican Women for Choice, the Catholics for Choice and all the other various groups were unfailingly friendly to each other.

The celebrities, too, are to be congratulated for their quiet participation - just like they were one with each marcher.

All in all, it was perfect. I hope the country's leaders were paying attention!

Wanda
Plano

(All stories have been edited due to limited space.  Story content has not been rewritten.)

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