By Frankie Godoy, UW News Lab/Special to CHS
Thousands of people from in and out of the Seattle area made their way to Cal Anderson Park Saturday morning for this year’s Seattle Women’s March with strollers, signs, pets, and pink hats in tow. Everyone gathering in the park had a reason for marching. Some wrote out their reason on their clothing or carried it on a sign.
Janet Caragan, from Gig Harbor, Washington, was among the people in the largest rush arriving at 9 AM. Caragan was unable to attend last year’s march, but said she was excited about attending more Women’s Marches in the future. She said she wished more young people would participate in the march and other political movements.
“Young people need to get out here to make changes,” said Caragan.
Three University of Washington students were marching for women’s rights. One student, Marcela, felt the march meant more to her.
“I feel like it’s not just women’s rights, it’s also immigrants’ rights and environmental justice.”
Rico Hurerra, came from Indianola, Washington. He was not marching in 2017 since he was protesting at Standing Rock. Hurerra was marching with Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women of Seattle.
“I hope someday in the future society can recognize the equality between the male and female,” said Hurrera.
Andrea and Ian Bennett from Matthews Beach, Washington, were marching for change in the systemic causes and policies that hold back equality, said Ian. The two also said they were hopeful for change in the next year.
“We’ll be out here marching in celebration of a female president, too,” Andrea said.
The immense crowd took time to form. At 8:30 AM, only a few dozen volunteers and people setting up a stage were scattered around Bobby Morris field on the south end of Cal Anderson Park. Police and security detail were walking around the area as well.
The first groups to arrive began joining the circle and introducing themselves to the volunteer staff. People were staying in tighter groups to stay warm.
Thousands fill streets of Capitol Hill for 2018 Seattle Women’s March
By 9:30 AM, about 1,000 people had arrived at the park. Laughing, taking pictures, and cheering, everyone was excited for the march to begin. One young girl playing around her family asked her mother, “Can there be a Women’s March every month?”
By 10, the crowd began spilling off the field and out across the park. Occasional cheering would erupt in one spot and spread across the park. Lines of people snaked around the fountain and down into Capitol Hill Station. As every train rolled into the light rail station, more cheering could be heard from inside as the doors opened to floods of people making their way up to the park.
Officials put the crowd’s numbers somewhere around 100,000 marchers on the day. You can view all of CHS’s photos from the day on our Facebook page.
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