Trumps Presidency a Year Later: The Impact of #WomensMarch

Today marks a year and 6 days of the 2016 Presidential elections, where Donald Trump and the Republican Party shockingly defeated Hilary Clinton and the Democratic Party. November 8th 2016 was a night of confusion and fear on a both national and global scale. Marginalized groups in the United States, women, the LGBT, immigrants, the poor and other allies were unsure of what to expect preceding the official inauguration of Trump and his administration.

While the nation and the world lived in a state of shock for the last two months of the year, they surely overcame it on inauguration day with the rise and success of the Women’s March. A worldwide protest that occurred on the day of Trump’s inauguration, which political scientist noted as the “largest day of protests in United States History.”

The marches around the country drew a collection of speakers, many distinguished within academia, film, music and politics too. Women like, Gloria Steinem, Scarlett Johansson, and Kamala Harris. The energy formed of collective outrage manifested into a movement for change. A movement for people by the people.

On a personal note, I was extremely devastated with the results. As a first generation Sudanese-Canadian, the elections did not directly impede on my humanity, but I mourned for my kinfolk who did live in the States. I mourned for other marginalized communities who were living in a purgatory because people wanted a country where their racist, xenophobic, homophobic and other ists and ics behaviors would go unquestioned , mustered under the guise of making America great again.

My devastation was overshadowed by hope while watching the Women’s March rise to their glory. Advocating for the rights of not just women, but healthcare, immigration reform, environment, racial equality and religion, it gave me reassurance that everything will be alright, and that Trump was not invincible when there were people in number ready to fight for justice and practicality.