Standing in the crowds at Denver鈥檚 Civic Center Park on Jan. 20, I struggled to see over people鈥檚 heads. But I had a clear view of thousands of poster-board signs poking out above the masses.
Messages about women鈥檚 reproductive rights, immigration reform and climate change were scribbled on signs in marker and colored pencil. Some signs referenced Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign 鈥� reading "I鈥檓 With Her" -- as well as "Time鈥檚 Up" signs referencing sexual harassment and the #metoo movement.
The occasion was the second Women's March, part of a series of similar events held nationwide on Saturday.
Almost everyone I talked to had participated in last year's Women鈥檚 March, an event that included millions of people around the world. One year later, people in Denver were laughing and having fun, but there was also a lot of anger at the Trump administration.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 a demonstration of frustrations, no matter if you鈥檙e a man or a woman,鈥� said Gregg Gustafson.
鈥淭hings have got to change. What鈥檚 going on now in the White House, it鈥檚 just so nasty and horrible,鈥� said Sandra Cordova, a self-described "former loyal Republican."
For some people I interviewed, going to these marches is how they get involved. Others said they give money to groups they support.
A lot are getting energized politically.
鈥淭he thing that has changed for me that for all of my life, I鈥檝e come out and voted,鈥� said Cordova. 鈥淏ut now I鈥檓 doing everything in-between the vote, which is calling, writing my representatives, getting involved. And before it was just a vote!鈥�
I asked 10-year-old Charlotte from Aurora why she came to the march. Her response:
鈥淭o support women鈥檚 rights and just trying to make the world a better place.鈥�
鈥淲hen you think about a future society that鈥檚 better, what do you think of?鈥� I asked.
鈥淭hat more women are going to be running for president or senator,鈥� said Charlotte.
For the Women鈥檚 March organizers, Charlotte's focus on elections is the idea. They put together a series of post-march meet-ups the weekend of the march -- and the following weekend -- in Front Range towns to help people get involved before the November midterm elections.
