INDIANAPOLIS — Thousands of women and their advocates flooded the west side plaza of the Indiana Statehouse on Saturday to send a message to state and national leaders: We’re still here.
Meanwhile, an estimated half-million people participated in the Women’s March on Washington, D.C. The rally in Indianapolis was just one of hundreds of sister events in cities across the globe held the day after Donald Trump was sworn in to the country’s highest office.
Kerry Conway, 63, New Salisbury, marched for women’s rights in the 1960s and early ’70s. She didn’t expect to be doing the same 40 or 50 years later. But she’s willing to keep doing it.
“For the first time in decades we actually had a candidate who spoke openly in a way that was very denigrating to women, and he got elected anyway,” Conway said. “Which tells me that our culture still needs a lot of work in terms of change.”
Conway’s daughter, Shannon Conway, was nearby, a nod to what her mother called “intergenerational strength.” The Conways didn’t have to look far to see other examples.
While adults talked and found their places, children ran circles through the lawn. Some rested on the shoulders of those much taller in order to get a glimpse across the sea of people. Over 8,000 RSVP'd for the rally, and organizers estimated the crowd size at 15,000.
Michelle Thomas, Anderson, drove to Indianapolis with her 9-year-old daughter, Layla. They talked about women’s rights in the car. It was perfect timing when Katy Perry’s “Roar” came on the radio.
“[I came to the rally] so that my daughter has equal rights to men, that my son and her should have the same pay,” Thomas said. “And she should be able to stand up for what she believes in, in the future, too.”
Shaunna Norris, Indianapolis, took her 10-year-old son, Elijah, to the rally. Elijah’s handmade sign said it all: “I totally support women.”
“He’s a young black male, and I want to make sure that he is actively involved,” Norris said. “There’s going to be things that affect him, there are things that are happening that affects the women in his life, things I want him to be able to fight for when he gets to be a man.”
Elijah said it was a “gift” to see so many people fighting for what they believe in. Like his mother — who is a healthcare professional — many of the rally-goers were worried about the future of the Affordable Care Act and access to resources like Planned Parenthood.
One sign pictured a Republican elephant nestled inside a woman’s uterus. “The elephant in the womb,” the sign read.
Others were more to the point, like “keep abortion legal” or “girls just want to have fun-damental rights.”
Many of the signs targeted President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, Indiana’s most-recent former governor. “Orange is the new fascism,” one sign said.
Another sign depicting Trump inappropriately grabbing the Statue of Liberty had no words.
SPEAKING OUT
Speaking from atop the steps of the Statehouse, stand-up comedian Helen Hong opened for a slate of speakers. She remembered being in Indianapolis for a rally before Pence was the VP pick and seeing “Pence must go” signs.
Pence went, but not to where the people rallying had hoped.
“Now we all gotta deal with him,” Hong said, inciting laughter, but only after loud booing at the mention of Pence’s name.
It was one of the only times the crowd booed. Most speakers inspired applause and excited screams. Any mention of former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama got the most reaction, followed closely by comments on LGBT rights.
The speakers reflected the crowd. White, black, brown, immigrant, transgender, Muslim — they all took the microphone to remind everyone what they all have in common: they’re human.
Karla Lopez-Owens shared her story of crossing the border from Mexico. She was just a child when her single mother took her across the border to the United States. Lopez-Owens said it’s a parent’s obligation to do what it takes to give their child a better life — even if that means bypassing the “right way” to cross geographic borders.
When Lopez-Owens recounted Trump’s comments about Mexican’s being rapists and criminals, she paused. When she started speaking again, her voice cracked.
“I am not a rapist,” she said. “We are not any of [those] things.”
When she announced what she is — a law student at Indiana University — the crowd erupted with cheers.
CALL TO ACTION
State Rep. Carey Hamilton, D-Indianapolis, reminded the crowd that she — and all elected officials — work for the people. And it’s time for the people to put officials to work, she said.
“We are called now to do the hard work of democracy,” she said. “We must keep talking and listening to each other, to our friends and our neighbors and our family. And then we must do what we are doing today.
“We must all show up and do the hard work.”
Several speakers encouraged rally-goers to call their representatives and support grassroots organizations. Some went so far as to suggest running for office.
Teri Siler, one of the event’s main organizers, announced a newly formed political action committee, Hoosiers for Action. The PAC will work to fund “like-minded” candidates for local offices to help “build our future” and bring Indiana into a new age.
Quoting U.S. Sen. Corey Booker, D-New Jersey, Siler left the crowd with an idea to which Trump, himself, might even agree.
“The power of the people is greater than the people in power,” she said.