About the Women's March.

I had an improv show on Friday night.  My friend Ellie was in town and came to see it, and a bunch of us went out for drinks after. The show didn’t end till 11pm, and needless to say I was out later then I should have.  At 11:30pm my friend sent a group text, “Go to bed you two, we have a big day tomorrow.” I looked at it, and thought, ‘Well, that’s not happening.  I’m already here knee deep in a discussion about politics… I’ll be fine in the morning.’  Needless to say I ignored my 8:30am alarm, and finally got myself up about 9am.  I was already running late.  I thought for a second of just pulling the blanket over my head, and texting to say I couldn’t make it.  The thought of showering and getting dressed seemed overwhelming.  I couldn’t cancel.  I knew how much it meant to my friends, and I had promised.  Pull it together, Villa… this a story about the Women’s March on Saturday…

We got into the Loop around 10am, and crowds were beginning to grow.  They initially estimated 20,000 people would be in attendance, and quickly after they doubled that estimation going into the weekend.  We started to make our way toward the holding area, and as we walked through the crowds the thing I noticed was the diversity.  Old people, young people, kids in strollers, gay people, straight people, lesbians, white people, brown people, and everyone else you can imagine.  It has to be the most diverse event I have attended.  People were kind, and patient, and as we moved through the crowd people started to make their way out of the holding area, and then someone informed the crowd, ‘It’s cancelled –the crowd is too big now.  150,000 people are here.’  We started to make our way to Michigan Ave, and as we walked to get out of the area we noticed the crowds were marching anyway.  They came to make a statement –they came to be heard.  We too wanted to be heard, and so we joined them, and marched through the streets of Chicago peacefully.  People made signs, and started chants, and though strangers amongst strangers we were all there as one.

Afterwards, we went to brunch, and TV’s streamed the news coverage, and my social media was flooded with reposted news articles and pictures.  Chicago was one of many cities, at least one march on each continent.  What did we accomplish though? We, as a global community, made a statement this weekend.  We are here, and we have a voice, and we are not ok.  We will not be silent, and we will not be taken for fools.  We will not sit idle, and we will stay vigilant.  Immediately after the election the language changed… we’re going to be ok.  It’s only four years.  There are systems and people that will make sure he doesn’t kill us all. I don’t know if I believe that.  I don’t know if I believe the empire cannot fall.  He was never a successful businessman –he was a fortunate man who came from a wealthy family.  Sure, I’ll give him credit for the branding, and making his name a brand.  However, on his climb to the top he screwed everyone over.  He is a bad person.  Here’s the thing, the people who will suffer most are those that believe he will help them.  America is now Trump Mountain, and he has reached the top, and the mountain will begin to crumble if we are not there to stop it.

I went Saturday to march, and I’m happy I did.  What I do believe is that we have the power and ability to steer the ship.  We are in charge here if we chose to be.  This is the beginning-not the end.  If you haven’t seen Aziz’s open for Saturday Night Live check it out -Aziz got it right.