“Hear them roar”, read a headline in a US newspaper. A real movement is when expectations are exceeded beyond people’s wildest projections. The Women’s Marches around the world last weekend are a moment in history. Millions made themselves heard. The marches were peaceful and beautiful, and they will birth a generation of activists.
It has been reported that 53 per cent of white women who voted, voted for Donald Trump, but they did not turn up in any great numbers to his inauguration. If you really believe in something, you show up, rain or shine. Women opposed to Trump are clearly now far more motivated to resist his presidency and administration. These marches also cap and continue a remarkable time in history for the women’s movement and for feminism. For several years, we have been talking about this third wave of feminism. The millions of women and men marching around the world are its manifestation, articulation, celebration and continuation. The marches in the US also come at a time of increased protest and civic engagement related to the Black Lives Matter movement.
The peacefulness, humour, grace and joy of these marches and rallies are what we need at such a dark point in the history of western democracy. The fact that there was no violence and virtually no arrests despite the vast numbers, is phenomenal and in stark contrast to Trump’s own campaign rallies, frequently marred by violence against peaceful protestors, and general rage.
These marches also made visible the aspirations of intersectionality. The Women’s Marches outlined inclusive and wide-ranging Unity Principles, a manifesto that for many will broaden their understanding of what the feminist movement means; ending violence and police brutality, fighting for reproductive rights, expanding and protecting the rights of LGBTQIA (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, queer, intersex, asexual) people, equal pay and workers’ rights and the rights of undocumented and migrant workers, disability rights, civil rights, immigrant rights and environmental justice.
Solidarity
But there is also something bittersweet about it all. This movement was growing all along, but could Hillary Clinton have made these marches and vast displays of solidarity happen? In a way, maybe she did, given that the opposition the Republicans provided to her candidacy was one of misogyny. If Clinton had become the first female president of America, no doubt her inauguration crowd would have been huge and historic. But her loss, and the victory of a self-confessed sexual predator, has ignited this movement in a different way. Since most presumed Clinton was going to be victorious, the outcome of the election was always going to be a feminist one. Now it is, just not for the reasons we thought this time last year. The Women's Marches also embarrass any of those tired old commentaries and commentators who think it is valid to ignorantly denigrate or patronise feminism. Change the record.
Meanwhile, at the first post-inauguration White House press conference, Sean Spicer, the White House press secretary gave a shrieking account of the relatively poorly-attended inauguration. He accused journalists and media outlets of inaccurate reporting the crowd numbers, going on to claim, falsely, that the inauguration had the "largest audience ever".
This lying and propaganda is outrageous and petty, and illustrates again how egomaniacal this administration will be, but it also serves an astute purpose. Many of those who believed Trump until now, and who participated in the virulent animosity towards media, will have their delusions compounded by such rhetoric. The Trump-Bannon-Spicer propaganda machine will further divide and polarise. The President’s support base will watch and listen and be convinced again that mainstream media lies and is fake. These are the real echo chambers and filter bubbles. Spicer’s claims that the inauguration crowd was the biggest ever – while photographs from the event show vast swathes of empty space and vacant stands along the parade route – are ridiculous, but they are also classic propaganda tactics straight out of the authoritarian regime handbook. The American people must hold on to the facts in the face of such deliberate confusion, because the Trump machine’s tactics of lying to the public will re-enforce those who favour the new Presidents’s fantasy dystopian vision of America and the lies he needs to propagate to keep those terrifying delusions alive.
These marches did not end on Saturday, no more than a movement appeared out of nowhere nor disappeared into the ether. On an immediate practical level, a day of activism and training was held in Washington DC on Sunday: "After We March, We Organise. Join Us.", the poster said as groups including Generation Progress, the Ms Foundation, Planned Parenthood, the National Domestic Workers Alliance, United State of Women, and EMILY's List (a group that helps elect pro-choice Democratic women) held training and advocacy events.
The majority of Trump's voters were conservative white men. They may hold most of the power in society but that demographic is on the back foot when it comes to fighting for their rights. Women, people of colour, LGBT people and other minorities have far more practice and knowledge when it comes to protest and civil rights movements. They've been fighting all their lives. It's why marginalised and oppressed people are disproportionately politically engaged. Even in Ireland, according to the most recent Burning Issues survey from the National LGBT Federation, seven per cent of LGBT people are members of political parties, whereas the general population figure is two per cent. Trump, and what and who he stands for, may have won the battle. But the bigger victory is out there to be seized. Hear them roar.