Taking part in the Women’s March in Grand Marais was, from L-R: Gina Todd, Debbi LaMusga, and Jennifer Shoals. It was estimated that 120 people took part in the march.
Although the planning was spur of the moment, about 120 men and women heeded the call of Berta Bauer to come and march with her in Grand Marais on Saturday, January 21.
“It was hugely successful, much more than I expected,” said Bauer of the turnout.
The Women’s March in Grand Marais was one of at least 673 that were held worldwide one day after the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the U.S.A. Marchers in Washington, D.C. were mostly on hand to protest President Trump’s statements he made about women and women’s rights during the presidential campaign.
Originally Bauer planned on gathering with some of her neighbors on Birch Drive, or, “I thought maybe I would drive to Duluth and join a sister March,” she said. But a Friday text from her daughter Kate, who lives in Steamboat Springs, convinced her to try to hold a rally in town.
“She texted me at 9:46 a.m. on Friday and said, ‘Mom, you should do this.’ She told me she would set it up on Facebook and Boreal. First I checked with the city, the county, and the sheriff ’s office to see what we could do. When I found out it would be okay, with Kate’s encouragement and help, I set it up.
There might have been more than half a million people at the Women’s March in Washington, D.C. but that doesn’t mean you couldn’t run into someone you know. Pictured here are Denny FitzPatrick and Mary Sanders who happened to spot Carly Puch, who only a few years ago was a star volleyball player for the Vikings.
“I told her maybe 10 people would show up, and she said that if 10 showed up, it would be successful.”
A small crowd gathered at the courthouse at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Because more and more people were arriving, Bauer said they waited before heading downtown. As the group walked through town past city hall to Harbor Park, more people fell in line.
“I was grateful for the number of men and boys that took part. This wasn’t a women’s march; it was really a people’s march.”
When the group got to Harbor Park, Bauer, who didn’t have time to get a speaker, asked if anyone wanted to share their concerns, hopes, or dreams for the future of the country.
“A lot of people spoke. It was meaningful, the things they wished for,” Bauer said.
As the Women’s March in Grand Marais progressed, more and more people took part. The march started at the courthouse at 10 a.m. with a small gathering and ended about one hour later in Harbor Park with an estimated 120 people on hand.
All in all the entire event lasted about one hour.
Now that everyone has gone home, Bauer was asked if there would be plans to keep meeting to discuss pertinent issues and advocate politically for them.
“Yes, I hope so. This [march] isn’t about conservative or liberals. This, I hope, is a starting point for everybody to come together and work inclusively on issues that affect all of us. People that marched on Saturday were advocating for the environment, for an end to global warming, for education, an acceptance of all races, religions and sexual orientation. Topics that affect us all.”
Women’s March in Washington
Five locals—Pat Campanaro, Denny FitzPatrick, Rena Rogers, Mary Sanders, and Mary Lou Sorensen—joined half a million other enthusiastic marchers at the national Women’s March in Washington, D.C., on January 21.
The post-inauguration rally in support of women’s rights and human rights was the largest event of its kind in U.S. history. The unprecedented worldwide sister rallies drew more than 5 million people in 673 marches in 81 countries around the world.
Senator Amy Klobuchar was on hand to greet eight full busloads of Minnesotans as they arrived there for the day-long rally.
“I felt like I was swimming in a sea of love – a breathtaking and historic rising up for women’s rights and human rights,” Denny FitzPatrick said.
“The march affirmed my belief in the power of the democratic system,” said Pat Campanaro. “It was positive, happy, peaceful and a worldwide statement that we the people are engaged and ready to fight for our rights. I will not stand by silently but stand bold and speak loud. As President Trump said the government belongs to the people and it’s the people who can make a difference.”
Rena Rogers was philosophical in her response. “Truly a once in a lifetime experience to be connected in purpose to literally millions of people around the world. A purpose that is about caring for all people. If we want a successful democracy we have to care about the impact of policy and actions on all of us not just ourselves.”
Mary Sanders used adjectives to sum up her experience, “Amazing, historical, inspiring, and also fun. A 10-hour day of standing and walking after a 28-hour bus ride evoked gratitude for my stamina and mobility.”
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