What started as a simple Facebook post quickly became a worldwide movement that will be etched as an iconic moment in the history of feminism and social activism. Last January 21, an estimated 4.8 million people across the globe made their voices heard as part of the Women's March, an international rebuke to the new administation of Donald Trump.
A result of her sorrow after the November 8 election results in Trump's favor, retired lawyer and founder Teresa Shook was overwhelmed by the response to her Facebook post about marching against Trump's administration. In under 24 hours, more than 10,000 people joined her cause in what would become the Women's March in Washington, D.C. However, the notion spread worldwide instantaneously. Come January 21, all seven continents participated in the protest. Significant cities include Los Angeles, New York, London, Paris, Melbourne, Nairobi, and Mexico. There were even protests in Antarctica.
Millions of people were inspired to join because of Trump's divisive campaign that discriminated against women, minorities, and immigrants. Because of this, the march itself was more than just a cry for fundamental human rights. It also aimed to recognize and appreciate diversity, advocate women's rights alongside LGBT rights, promote gender equality, race equality, immigrant reforms, and healthcare refoms. There were also marchers for both pro-life and pro-choice advocates, but despite their differences, nothing about the march was divisive. Placards, signposts and chants were a colorful variety raging from vicious to hilarious, from the general "Women's Rights Are Human's Rights" to blunt signs such as "I Am So F**king Pissed."
There were also a number of celebrities and public figures who joined the inspiring protest against hate. On top of the list is feminist icon Gloria Steinem, who rose into fame for her article in the New York magazine, "After Black Power, Women's Liberation" and has since become a leader and spokeswoman for the feminist movement since the late 1960s. Singer and pop culture icon Madonna also made an appearance, going as far as cussing at Trump on live television. Other figures include Scarlett Johansson, Alicia Keys, Ariana Grande, and many others.
This march has made history for being the largest protest in American history, and for being one step closer to social reform.
Image source: Getty / Mario Tama
Image source: Getty / Mario Tama
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