For the second year in a row, people gathered in solidarity at womens' marches around the globe, with some protesting President Donald Trump, others making a stand for equal rights, and many doing a bit of both. In Unalaska, the Women's March drew 55 people of all ages and all backgrounds.
“I’m proud to sing a song that some students created: 'We’ve been oppressed. Our issues unaddressed. We’re women, women, women!'" chanted Shawna Rudio. “I've got to give a shout out to the students on this one. They’re leading the way and the rest of us will follow.”
Rudio is frustrated by the current political climate. She wants to see all people come together to solve the nation’s problems for everyone, not just the one percent.
“Everyone, all citizens need to realize that democracy doesn’t work unless people use their voices and they use their power," Rudio said. "It would be great to see some new voices on the scene.”
Sharon Svarny-Livingston is an organizer for the march. Svarny-Livingston says last year she marched because she wanted to be sure everyone knew that women are people and that peoples' civil liberties can be taken away from them like her mother’s were in World War II when the Unangax were forced to evacuate.
“This year we’re marching because we wanted to continue that," Svarny-Livingston said. "And we wanted to make sure our representatives in the house and the senate truly represent us.”
The slogan 'power to the polls' was taken literally. Two registrars, including Tammy Pound, volunteered their time to help people register to vote.
“That’s your voice and it helps create what happens in our country," Pound said. "When people are elected that align with what you believe in, that helps create policy that you want to see.”
And she’s all for seeing more women, like independent Alyse Galvin who is running for the U.S House of Representatives -- in politics.
“I’m hoping for a lot more women in office." Pound said. "That’s how we’re going to get things done that are important to women, important to children, and social issues.”
And Pound wants elected officials to know the next generation of voters, young people who aren’t yet 18, see the current political climate and are choosing to march.
