WEB EXCLUSIVE

The crisp, warm sun beat on the backs of both men and women alike. They hoisted signs and chanted slogans like “equal work, equal pay” or “we will not go quietly back into the 1950s” as they marched through the streets of Lake Eola in Downtown Orlando on Jan. 21, 2017.

Sophomore Cassidy Gillis said attending the rally–her first–had a big impact on her.

“I thought the experience was amazing; at first, I thought there was going to be some negativity, but everyone was welcoming and atmosphere was extremely powerful,” Gillis said. “There was almost a force going through everyone that was there. I was really happy with the rally because I knew there were so many other marches that were happening at that exact moment; the thought of so many people coming together to fight for women’s rights was amazing.”

Gillis felt the purpose of the march was wide-ranging.

“I decided to go to the women’s march because it was for more than just me–I was standing up for other women who can’t stand up and say something,” Gillis said. “As a young woman, it’s my responsibility to fight for other women.”

Italian teacher Marzia Vitali has attended around seven or eight women’s rallies in her lifetime.

“I was proud of this rally because it seemed more like what we use to do way back when,” Vitali said. “We’ve had this giant drought, basically, of people not caring or getting involved; it was really good to see.”

Contemporary impact

AP French teacher Victoria Huffman, who attended the rally along side Vitali, found herself both impressed and comforted by the number of people who attend the rally, as well as the young demographic in the crowd.

“There were a lot of young people trying to get involved with what they think is important; everyone there had different things that they thought was most important for women, it was for what those particular women believed in,” Huffman said. “It was women coming together, and men, [for] people who weren’t being treated equal; it was a lot of camaraderie, everyone was there for a different reason and we could all support each other to show unity just like in D.C.”

Of the many aspects of the rally that affected her, Huffman recalled one poster that left an particular imprint on her.

“One poster at the rally that really spoke to me said ‘stop calling for peace when you really mean silence,’” Huffman said. “That really stuck with me because you can be peaceful, but you do not have to be silent.”

Huffman said that the biggest reason the poster had an effect on her was because of what it stood for: the right of freedom of speech.

“Just because you don’t agree with what I agree with, that’s fine,” Huffman said. “We went as a reminder that women who have these issues [are] not going to sit down quietly. That is is what makes democracy great: we can march, we can protect, we can vote, we can say how we feel. That’s what’s important.”

Huffman stated that the movement is worldwide, adding to the fact that all over the world, people stand firm in their belief and will not stay silent.

“Paris had like 5000 women show up, Rome had like 2000 or 3000 women and men show up,” Huffman said. “It’s a worldwide issue that not just Americans are complaining about; it’s all over the world it needs to be heard that women have these feelings, men have these feelings. They need to be heard they can’t be silenced.”

Moving forward

Some of the key speakers at the rally included councilwoman Patty Sheehan, the first openly gay elected official for Orlando, who discussed gun legislation; a blind and epileptic duo who promoted inclusion for disabled citizens; and a Muslim woman working for Islamic integration.

Vitali said that people who no longer want their voice to be silenced should stand up and fight for it because no one will hand it to them.

“If you believe in something then stand up, study it, speak intelligently about it and fight for what you believe in,” Vitali said.