1,400 attend Women’s March for solidarity

ST. GEORGE – Approximately 1,400 women, men and children marched through downtown St. George Saturday afternoon as part of an organized sister march to the “Women’s March on Washington” which was held in the District of Columbia.

Participants hold the American flag high as they lead off the sister “Women’s March on Washington” held in St. George, Utah, Jan. 21, 2017 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

The march, which saw hundreds of sister marches across the United States and throughout the world, was ostensibly organized to protest on behalf of women’s rights on the first full day of Donald Trump’s presidency.

“Around the world, women brandished signs with slogans such as ‘Women won’t back down’ and ‘Less fear more love.’ They decried Trump’s stand on such issues as abortion, health care, diversity and climate change,” a report from the Associated Press stated.

In addition to St. George, marches in Utah were held in cities such as Kanab, Ogden, Cedar City and Park City.

The St. George march was organized by Eva Livingston who decided to host a sister march just a few days prior to Saturday. Livingston put the event on Facebook and hoped to get around 20 of her closest friends to join her, she said. But the event took off well beyond expectations.

Contingencies from all corners of Washington County, as far as Springdale and Rockville, came to support the historic march, while others joined from outside the county and the state, hailing from Mesquite, Nevada, and even San Diego, California.

As people gathered at the St. George city offices before the start of the march, a conservative estimate put the crowd at about 200-300 people. But, as the march progressed, it became clear that the crowd had swelled. Several people stationed themselves on corners and counted the numbers as they passed. By best count there were 1,475 participants.

“I want to thank everybody for showing up today,” Livingston said.

Across the country and around the globe the story was similar as huge crowds turned out to lend their support to the cause.

“The Washington rally alone attracted over 500,000 people by the unofficial estimate of city officials,” the Associated Press report said.

Thousands of people fill the streets Washington D.C. during the “Women’s March on Washington” held in the District of Columbia, Jan. 21, 2017 | Photo by and courtesy of Peter Stark, St. George News

While it could be fairly said that the protest was fueled in large part by fear of Trump’s political agenda, especially where women and minority groups such as the LGBT community are concerned, the protest in St. George was a peaceful display that most participants said showed solidarity and hope rather than divisiveness.

Dallas Henry, an outreach and clinic coordinator for Planned Parenthood in St. George, said she was marching to let the community know that their doors would remain open no matter what.

“We’re here for our community,” Henry said, “and we’re going to march together in solidarity with our sisters in Washington.”

Henry said she believes Trump deserves a chance to do the right thing.

“We as women, we’re standing together and giving him that chance,” Henry said, “and we’re going to hold him accountable no matter what.”

Though there were several anti-Trump posters and signs displayed at the march, many of the protesters echoed Henry’s sentiments in giving Trump the benefit of the doubt and focusing their efforts on being positive voices for women and other important causes.

I accept Trump as president,” Sara Dupre said. “I just want him to recognize that we want to protect our rights, our future … ”

Dupre said she was marching for myriad reasons, including women’s rights and the environment.

Participants in the “Women’s March on Washington” in St. George carry hand made signs as they march down the sidewalks of St. George, Utah, Jan. 21, 2017 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News

Joe Lambert, a retired member of the U.S. Army, went against the popular hashtag #notmypresident which many have taken up in the wake of Trump’s election and inauguration.

“He’s my president,” Lambert said. “I’m going to give him a chance.”

Lambert said he was participating in the women’s march on behalf of his wife and all the ladies and said he believes that women’s rights should be a focus.

Lambert added that he chose to serve the country and defend the Constitution which allows for peaceful protest.

More than a protest, the march was seen as a celebration of women and the opportunity for attendees to make their voices heard, Livingston said.

“(I’m here) because our voices matter,” Livingston said, “because I never thought my voice mattered before this election. Now I think my voice matters.”

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68 Comments

  • comments January 21, 2017 at 9:13 pm

    These people so in love with “refugees” need to get out and go live in a muslim country for a while. Come back and tell us how wonderful muslims are after that. Maybe they can put together a feminist or women’s rights march in Saudi Arabia or some other wonderful muslim country. Also take notice of the sign with the word “ignorane”–that is pure irony right there, lol

    • .... January 22, 2017 at 1:18 pm

      Oh the butthurt runs deep on this one. You want some crying towels cry baby ?

  • Henry January 21, 2017 at 9:55 pm

    Hillary Clinton must be asking herself, why didn’t these overwhelmingly white women have their protest BEFORE the election? According to the New York Times, “53% of the white female voters in this country voted for Donald Trump.” Protesting now seems “a day late and a dollar short”.

  • Utahguns January 21, 2017 at 10:25 pm

    Pro Choice?
    I’m pro life….Just my opinion, but, everyone deserves a chance, right?

    Trade Trump for 100,000 refugees?
    Look what uncontrolled illegal immigration got us……I’m for the Wall…..

    Nyet my President?
    Then move to Russia…I stayed in America under Obama and help make the change to our new president.

    Free Birth Control?
    In my opinion, You finance your own escapades…

    Women don’t know how much better off they will be under President Trump. Give the man a chance to do what he said he would do.
    Seems like that’s the fairness and equality that should be in their message.

  • think4urself January 21, 2017 at 11:20 pm

    This is so great! I’m not on Facebook so I wasn’t aware that a March was going to take place in our beautiful city…when I saw all these wonderful people in action this afternoon, it brought a huge smile to my face and tears to my eyes.

  • 556poor January 21, 2017 at 11:59 pm

    Wow didn’t know we had that many mindless celebrity fallowing zombies in town. Maybe President Trump can deport them to California for us.

  • digger January 22, 2017 at 5:53 am

    These are Some Very Confused People.

  • Lastdays January 22, 2017 at 6:39 am

    So what was the purpose of marching on City Hall ?
    Was the City responsible for their issues ?
    Did they have a Special Event Permit to do this ?
    Did they have a Parade permit to clog the streets and intersections ?
    Just curious. Still trying to figure out what the motivation and purpose this march was for.

  • ladybugavenger January 22, 2017 at 7:58 am

    I’m not sure what these women are protesting. Madonna pledging her thoughts of blowing up the White House but knows it wouldn’t change anything, (but she would if it would change something?) I found to be disgusting in a time when terrorist are blowing $&!? up. Again, what are they protesting?

    • Henry January 22, 2017 at 10:48 am

      You’re right about Madonna, Ladybug. She’s as qualified to lecture about politics as she is about child rearing.

      It appears that part of the reason for these marches may be as a de facto fundraiser for Planned Parenthood. I read that PP raised over $10k yesterday in Kansas City.

      Watching the marchers and their signs was like going back in time. I thought some women were going to start burning their bras and singing to Helen Reddy’s “I am Woman, hear me roar…” LOL

    • DRT January 22, 2017 at 11:15 am

      “I’m not sure what these women are protesting. ”
      I honestly do not believe they really know either. These “spontaneous” demonstrations are anything but spontaneous.

  • ladybugavenger January 22, 2017 at 8:05 am

    These people saying, trump is not my president, well, they don’t care that I didn’t like Obama’s policies and actions. You don’t care about me and my disgust with Obama then I don’t care about you and your disgust with Trump. Crybabies!

  • Ronbo January 22, 2017 at 9:12 am

    These people are like sheep, they repeat the same lies over and over again. They take something said, blow it out of proportion, take it out of context, and twist it to their desired use. Then they call Trump a nazi, yet they follow the instruction of Joseph Goebbels, “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.”

  • wilbur January 22, 2017 at 9:36 am

    Whole lot of White Privilege in that crowd.

  • DRT January 22, 2017 at 11:16 am

    Fourteen hundred people with too much time on their hands? smh

  • Whatasin January 22, 2017 at 12:23 pm

    In my town of St George where in the year 2017, you find women are paidoing less than men and you’ll find more male surgeons less male nurses and only male judges. You will find more male business owners and less multicultural communities and diversity. I live in a town where you’re accepted if you belong to the LDS church, but you’re exculted if you’re different. Where women are married young and are to raise a large family while the cost of living and wages are not able provide fully and some look forward to government assistance benefits, yet we now have a new president where he will take us back further and eliminate what many families here depend on “government assistance” like free child care in order to work or reduced rent programs and food stamps and free baby formula and let’s not forget free goverment medicaid. The Affordable Care Act has been extremely beneficial for thousands of Utahans especially with serious illnesses and ineligible for Medicaid and let’s be honest employers do not provide good health care insurance or even affordable for employees, so if you’re lucky enough to get paid high wages with good medical benefits from your employer, you are incredibly lucky because it’s rare in St George utah. So why did I participate to march with my sister’s at the Women’s March? Well the new president Trump and his administration, will be taking away your family has been depending on. Women will be given low wages regardless if you have a degree, while men get higher wages in the same job position women do. I and millions of women are Raising the Bar right now and we marched for what acts of courage we had accomplished in the past, when our foremothers fought for Women Rights! Yet we have so much to do and WILL do in this time where we are challenged in every fibre of our being. I marched for my daughter’s, my foremothers and all young women and mother’s in America. We must stop name branding women and stand strong together! We are important to the world as women we must protect our rights and move forward, if not for you do it for your daughter, your sister, your best friend!

    • ladybugavenger January 22, 2017 at 1:26 pm

      I lived in st George too and I did not get paid less than a man at any job I had. I am not Mormon but no one came against me or ostricized me for it. I had the same opportunity as a man in St George UT.

      The college degree I have is for paralegal not business. But I started a business as a women just to see if I could do it. Got a trademark, copyright, LLC and so on.

      So maybe your problems aren’t because your a women!

      Shame on all of you cheering Madonna for thought of blowing up the White House!!!!!

      I would like to separate myself from your group of women, just know, you are not speaking for or fighting for me. God Bless!

  • Whatasin January 22, 2017 at 12:37 pm

    In my town of St George, where in the year of 2017, you find women are wages are less compare to mens wages. You will find more male surgeons and less male nurses. You will find only male judges and more male attorneys and less women attorneys, more male police officer’s and less female police officers. More female day care employees and teachers but less female Professors and superintendents. You will find more male business owners and more female personal assistants. In Sr George there is little of multicultural communities and diversity. I live in a town where you’re accepted if you belong to the LDS church, but you’re exculted if you’re different. Where women are married young and are to raise a large family while the cost of living and wages are not able provide fully and some look forward to government assistance benefits, yet we now have a new president where he will take us back further and eliminate what many families here depend on “government assistance” like free child care in order to work or reduced rent programs and food stamps and free baby formula and let’s not forget free goverment medicaid. The Affordable Care Act has been extremely beneficial for thousands of Utahans especially with serious illnesses and ineligible for Medicaid and let’s be honest employers do not provide good health care insurance or even affordable for employees, so if you’re lucky enough to get paid high wages with good medical benefits from your employer, you are incredibly lucky because it’s rare in St George utah. So why did I participate to march with my sister’s at the Women’s March? Well the new president Trump and his administration, will be taking away your family has been depending on. Women will be given low wages regardless if you have a degree, while men get higher wages in the same job position women do. I and millions of women are Raising the Bar right now and we marched for what acts of courage we had accomplished in the past, when our foremothers fought for Women Rights! Yet we have so much to do and WILL do in this time where we are challenged in every fibre of our being. I marched for my daughter’s, my foremothers and all young women and mother’s in America. We must stop name branding women and stand strong together! We are important to the world as women we must protect our rights and move forward, if not for you do it for your daughter, your sister, your best friend! Many of us can from different multicultural areas and diversity blended with different kinds of people that have hope in our new president and our country. We have passion we have strength and we believe that we will win this March moving forward step by step.

    • ladybugavenger January 22, 2017 at 1:31 pm

      I know I’m important, i don’t think that because I’m a women, I think that because I’m a human.

      I honestly, in my 46 years, have never experienced discrimination for being a women. I also don’t want to be a man.

      Maybe, I’m just that awesome 😉

      As a women, I do not stand with you or your group! Do not include me in your fight, you are fighting for yourselves.

    • comments January 22, 2017 at 6:42 pm

      Why did u do two nearly identical comments–both extremely long and rambling? You’re polluting the comment section, lol

      • comments January 22, 2017 at 6:43 pm

        for Whatasin

        • .... January 23, 2017 at 8:28 am

          Yeah when it comes to polluting the comment section that’s definitely you Bob !

  • delong January 22, 2017 at 1:11 pm

    Did I miss something? Pretty sure women didn’t lose their rights Friday. Way to contribute to more division tho.

  • .... January 22, 2017 at 1:22 pm

    well at least this explains the unemployed stats

    • Real Life January 23, 2017 at 6:53 pm

      YOU talking about employment? LOL!

      • .... January 23, 2017 at 10:57 pm

        I don’t have to work for a living and I know that bothers you and I really don’t care what a loser like you thinks. it’s not my fault you’re a failure in life and you have to go to work to pay rent !

  • Real Life January 22, 2017 at 1:36 pm

    When Madonna is one of your keynote speakers, your cause is not taken serious. Unless it is for a strip club of course.

    • .... January 23, 2017 at 8:30 am

      LOL Talking about a worthless cause. you get a job yet ?

  • ladybugavenger January 22, 2017 at 1:38 pm

    Correct my typos for me. Lol

  • ladybugavenger January 22, 2017 at 1:44 pm

    Maybe all these women’s problems are they want to be a man!

    Get over yourselves. I am a strong woman and don’t need your stupid march that you don’t even know why you are marching. Nothing has been taken from you. You make your life and teach people how to treat you, individually. You can change the most horrible person into respecting you but you don’t do it at a disgusting march, cheering violence and hate.

    • randomthoughts January 22, 2017 at 4:53 pm

      If you don’t agree with them and don’t want to take the time to understand where they are coming from then I have a simple solution for you…don’t make it your business. Let them march for what they feel deeply about without having to put them down. If you don’t agree with them, then to put it very simply for you, they aren’t marching for you!

      • ladybugavenger January 22, 2017 at 6:26 pm

        How could I agree or disagree? I don’t even know why they marched. I’m trying to figure out why they marched and I nailed it! I figured it out 😉

      • ladybugavenger January 22, 2017 at 6:31 pm

        random thoughts, I totally took the time to figure it out lol do you see all my comments? I figured it out! I got it now! I understand! Refer to my comment starting with “I get it…”

        Have a blessed evening!

      • ladybugavenger January 23, 2017 at 6:50 am

        randomthoughts that’s good advice. I only hope the people that didn’t get their way would stop putting Trump and his voters down and stop the hate!

  • ladybugavenger January 22, 2017 at 1:58 pm

    I’ve been hated, persecuted, and discriminated against for loving God and saying the name Jesus! But not ever for being a woman.

    • comments January 22, 2017 at 4:06 pm

      “I’ve been hated, persecuted, and discriminated against for loving God”

      did that ever include an involuntary trip to the psych ward? lol

      • Henry January 22, 2017 at 6:08 pm

        Didn’t you spend some time in the psych ward, for your incessant conspiracy theories regarding ZOG, the Trilateral Commission, and the international banker coterie? LOL

      • ladybugavenger January 22, 2017 at 6:26 pm

        Nope!

        • Henry January 22, 2017 at 10:37 pm

          Sorry Ladybug, I should’ve been clear: I was directing that comment toward Bob, not you. I’ve never read you writing about Zionist conspiracies. 🙂

          • ladybugavenger January 23, 2017 at 6:29 am

            I leave that for Bob lol

          • comments January 23, 2017 at 1:11 pm

            Where is the conspiracy, Henry? Is it not blatantly obvious that bankers run the world? It’s probably not “all zionists” but so many of them are it’s hard not to make the connection. Anyways who cares, no need to take everything so serious and get all butthurt. If LBA had been put in a mental ward I’d find it hilarious.

          • ladybugavenger January 23, 2017 at 5:44 pm

            Sorry to disappoint you Bob! Many tried, all failed!

          • Henry January 23, 2017 at 5:51 pm

            Not serious or butt hurt, Bob. You were teasing Ladybug about something that I thought applied to you too. If you get me admitted to a mental ward, just promise that you won’t have me put in a straitjacket and given an enema (from the movie comedy “Dracula, Dead and Loving It”). LOL

        • ladybugavenger January 23, 2017 at 5:45 pm

          Thank you Jesus!

      • ladybugavenger January 22, 2017 at 6:29 pm

        You’re funny Bob! LOL. I dodged that bullet 😉

        • comments January 22, 2017 at 10:29 pm

          aye good news there 😉

  • ladybugavenger January 22, 2017 at 3:26 pm

    I get it!!!! You’re mad that a women isn’t a President and you think she lost because of discrimination.

    She lost because it’s by electoral college not individual votes so California cant pick the President. You lost because she had no campaign. You lost because she’s too corrupt for the rest of us. You lost! HaHa! That’s all it is! No rights have been taken from you! You just mad a women isn’t President! This woman voted for Trump!

  • commonsense January 22, 2017 at 4:28 pm

    1,400 protesters out of 100,000 residents is about how many Washington County voters supported Hillary. Now their feelings are hurt. Their only commonality is disappointment over the elections. Oh, they advocate love unless your name is Donald, then hate is okay. Diversity is good unless it’s diversity of ideology. Misogyny is bad unless you are Bill Clinton, LBJ or JFK. Racism is bad unless you are Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson. So, what are we protesting? Oh yeh, losing. Yes, we are against losing.

    • ladybugavenger January 22, 2017 at 6:27 pm

      Nailed it!

    • commonsense January 23, 2017 at 8:49 am

      Don’t you just love “I’m doing this for my daughter”. Explaining vagina costumes and F bombs will be educational. The march on Washington was full of sexual perversity, the very thing you liberals criticize Trump for. What hypocrits! Your shameful lack of sportsmanship and grace in the face of defeat is unprecedented.

    • ScanMeister January 23, 2017 at 10:11 am

      Wow, commonsense great content……laser light on the true issue!

  • MrPratt January 22, 2017 at 8:54 pm

    Please, would someone please tell me where women are getting paid less than men? Government jobs? Working at Home Depot? Medical profession? Fast food? Selling cars? Waiting tables? Wal-Mart? What does an employer say to them when they hire them. “You’re a woman, so you are going to get $1.00 less then Bill over there doing the same job.”

  • ladybugavenger January 23, 2017 at 5:51 pm

    They are only marching now because Hillary lost. Where were the marches when Obama was president for 8 years? If true that women get paid less for the same position, job, and same time at said company, then it happened before Trump…..,naaaaa, you all marching because Hillary lost and you think its because she’s s woman and anyone who voted for Trump is against women. Sorry to disappoint your delusion.

  • commonsense January 24, 2017 at 8:24 am

    Getting together for a pity party was needed. The harsh reality of a bitter defeat across the nation except California where Trump never campaigned was hurtful. Couple that with a resounding defeat in the Senate, House, Governorships, State Legislatures and it hurt liberals deeply.
    Just don’t try to paint this election grief in any meaningful terms. Love, equality, diversity are noble except when you apply them selectively to liberals only. Hope you all feel better.

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