An estimated two thousand people marched through downtown Columbus in a preview of the Women鈥檚 March on Washington this weekend after President-Elect Donald Trump鈥檚 inauguration.
Many of the marchers came for some of the same reasons. 鈥淚 am here to advocate for women鈥檚 rights, women鈥檚 health care and equality for all,鈥� said Delta Steck of Westerville. 鈥淚鈥檓 here to support my fellow women with their equal rights,鈥� said Tarek Akkari of Columbus. 鈥淥h my gosh, there鈥檚 so many reasons. Why don鈥檛 we march, really? I mean, we鈥檙e here for women鈥檚 rights, we鈥檙e for equality, we鈥檙e here for gun control," said Sarah Hall Philips of Columbus.
Most marchers said they were there for unity too, though some doubted that will be possible. Some also joined with faith groups that held hands and formed a human chain around the Statehouse.
There was a little conflict 鈥� such as when a police officer had to separate two protestors 鈥� but the demonstration was peaceful. That鈥檚 what Barbara Marshall of Hilliard had hoped for 鈥� she鈥檇 come with other faith groups. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not a church function. We鈥檙e just people who care about the rights of women, of the LGBT, of immigrants, of people whose rights might be in danger,鈥� Marshall said.
Some of the women鈥檚 marchers stayed to join with the faith groups鈥� demonstration. And many of the marchers said they plan to attend the Women鈥檚 March on Washington next weekend.
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