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Western Kentuckians Trek to D.C. for Women's March on Washington

Hundreds of thousands of people from across the U.S. descended on the National Mall in the nation’s capitol Saturday for the Women’s March on Washington. A small, but energized group from far western Kentucky joined them. Matt Markgraf spoke with some of the women who made the journey.

More than 30 women from the western Kentucky region, including Bowling Green, Paducah and Southern Illinois (and as far as Birmingham, Alabama) on a bus to join the Women’s March on Washington.

Jessica Evans of Murray said she hopes the event will bring together solidarity and a collective wisdom. "I grew up in a family of amazingly strong women who taught me if something is not right you fight back and they have been my inspiration to continue on in my journey in life."

Evans said there is a friendly and peaceful atmosphere at the event. "It is an amazing spirit and an amazing group of people: men, women, children. Every person you could imagine, creed and color, here."

Mae Hagan of Owensboro traveled with the group as well as her husband Trenton and their 13-year-old son. She predicts there will be more rallies like this one. "Women are angry and when women are angry things change."

Hagan said the election results in November had to occur to prompt change. "This has been the most corrupt election cycle I have ever seen. We had a taste of what it's like to have equal rights. We've had our black president. We've had a taste of what it's like to have affordable healthcare. To have basic human rights that everyone should have and we're not ready to let it go. We refuse to let it go back to the way it was."

Hagan’s husband Trenton: "We just always taught our kids that if you see in justice you have to stand up for it. If you don't stand up for it nothing's going to change."

What began as a Facebook invitation after the election has grown into a massive movement, spawning similar marches in other cities and countries, including a March for Equality and Social Justice in Murray.

Though many, including media outlets, have described the march as an “anti-Trump” event, Evans disagreed: "I wouldn't call this an anti-Trump march by any means. I think this is a march against oppression. This is a march against silencing the minority of individuals who have far too long not gone without civil or human rights. This isn't about Trump, it's way bigger than that. And to say it is is kind of diminishing what all these people are standing here for now."

Evans said though the Women’s March on Washington stems from protecting women’s rights and reproductive freedoms, other progressive values are being expressed. "A lot of it is also marching for healthcare rights, defending Roe vs. Wade. And it's just been an incredible experience to see all these groups of people who share these similarities who are standing together. And I've seen several people that have been chanting 'United We Resist.'"

See more coverage from NPR

Matt Markgraf joined the WKMS team as a student in January 2007. He's served in a variety of roles over the years: as News Director March 2016-September 2019 and previously as the New Media & Promotions Coordinator beginning in 2011. Prior to that, he was a graduate and undergraduate assistant. He is currently the host of the international music show Imported on Sunday nights at 10 p.m.
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