We asked women (and men) why they attended the 2018 Women's March in Lansing

By Metro Times editorial staff on Mon, Jan 22, 2018 at 2:04 pm

Thousands of women and men, converged on our state's capital for the second annual Women's March on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018. As signs and pink hats dotted the capital lawn landscape during the mild winter afternoon, attendants built upon the momentum that started one year ago. As Michigan's largest Power to the Polls event hosted speakers from a diverse background, we asked those listening why they marched. This is what they said.

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“I’ve been fighting for women’s rights since the '60s. I feel we haven’t got them right. So I have to be a part of these movements.”
— Jean McKenna

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“Obviously for women’s rights. I think that’s important to have support for women everyday.”
— Allison Marek

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“I’m saying I’m here for the others. You can see my sign has ‘black,’ ‘hoes,’ meaning sex workers, trans people, immigrants, all people who didn’t feel represented at last year’s march.”
— Marie Perreault

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“I’m here because for the first time in my life, I feel it’s more important now than ever to have women, and everyone who supports women, be empowered to make a difference in this country to keep it a democracy.”
— Bonnie Biggs

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“I’m marching because it’s not just me who will be voting, and in four years there will be little girls who will be voting and if we don’t stand up now, their rights will be taken away. If I were to ever have kids I would want them to have the right to make their own choices instead of some other man.”
— Abby Billing

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“I’m still fighting for basic rights that people seem to think aren’t basic.”
— Katie Bulick

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“I march for everyone who can’t be here. I march for them.” — Madeline Ward

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“To bring more equality to women, from women”
— Clare Swaney

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“I march for women of color, women who are immigrants, the dreamers, I march for all women here. They deserve everything that’s coming for them. Women’s rights are human’s rights.”
— Olivia Ruppert

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“Because in times like these, it’s necessary to show support for one another”
— Nik Hil

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“I’m so sick of injustice. I’m tired of being sad and disappointed every time I turn on the news.”
— Becky Anguilm

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“I march because it matters. Because other people can’t and I can. And I’m pissed.”
— Heather Laube

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“It’s really important to stand by women, get them into the government, to do more for the state of Michigan, for all the U.S."
— Elsa Reyes

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“We’re here to get our voices heard because they’re not. They’re ignored.”
— Tim Plunkett

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“I march mainly because a lot of people can’t march, and they don’t march or they aren’t able to so as a white woman, able and willing, I march for those that can’t.”
— Jen Kingsbury

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“I think it’s important for everybody to keep awake.”
— Sarah Moberly

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“We should have power and be in solidarity. We should be all over the world from state to state, from country to country and have women marches in solidarity on one accord.”
— Edith Wright

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