Women’s March descends on Crested Butte, Gunnison

 

If you were in Crested Butte this past weekend, the sea of pink parading down Elk Avenue was hard to miss. The line of people along Tomichi Avenue in Gunnison the previous day was equally obvious.

“I think communities all over the country getting together for a positive movement and a celebration of women is a beautiful thing.”
Katie Lewinger

According to Gunnison County Democrats, more than 300 people attended the Women’s March in Crested Butte on Sunday, and more than 200 participated in the event on Saturday in Gunnison.

Those crowds might seem small, but as protesters took to the streets across the nation — and the world — for the second year running, the numbers start to add up. Broadly, the worldwide protest has advocated for legislation and policies related to women’s and reproductive rights, as well as many other human-rights issues.

According to womensmarch.com, the effort is “committed to dismantling systems of oppression through nonviolent resistance and building inclusive structures guided by self-determination, dignity and respect.”

In New York City, more than 200,000 protesters were reported on Saturday. Los Angeles had an even larger turn-out with more than 600,000 protesters taking to the streets. Organizers of the march in Chicago reported 300,000 attended the event.

This past weekend marked the first anniversary of the 2017 Women’s March following the inauguration of President Donald Trump.

Katie Lewinger, who participated in the march in Gunnison on Saturday, said the event was something in which she wanted to be part.

“I think communities all over the country getting together for a positive movement and a celebration of women is a beautiful thing,” said Lewinger.

Lewinger views such protests as an instrument for change.

“Children practice it on a regular basis,” she explained. “Valiant leaders in the past have supported protests that really changed the world and the way we think. The Women's March is a movement.”

Women’s healthcare is a big concern for Lewinger, motivating her to march.

“I'm concerned with the ability to be in control of my body and my health,” she said. “I'm concerned with being able to afford what I'll need in the future to continue being healthy.”

While anyone was welcome to participate in the Women’s March, its partisan undertones were hard to ignore. As a result, many conservative women — in the Gunnison Valley and elsewhere — chose not to participate.

Jane Chaney, chairwoman of the Gunnison County Republican Party, did not attend the marches over the weekend. For her, such protests seem more divisive than collaborative.

“Name calling is something I’m not big on, and resisting to me is not a cooperative way to come to an agreement,” explained Chaney.

Protest is often cast in a negative light, which Lewinger understands. But she also feels “the purpose of a protest expresses disapproval.”

In the same light, Lewinger believes positivity and community can come from the Women’s March.

“But the Women's March is about women marching forward (literally and figuratively),” Lewinger said. “Marching together and supporting our sisters and others who are oppressed in our communities and in the U.S.”

Chaney likes to see the community come together, and wants to see women’s voices being heard.

“We all have that right without any fear of the government coming and locking us up,” she said.

While the Women’s March preaches incorporating all women, as a Republican woman, Chaney feels it’s less inclusive.

“I think that everyone should be able to be heard, and in my personal experience a lot of people with my point of view get shouted down,” explained Chaney. “I am a pro-life woman, and I totally believe in every person’s right to believe what they believe, but a lot of times as a pro-life woman we’re not welcomed.”

Both Chaney and Lewinger can agree that it’s vital to have women’s voices heard. In that respect, one recurring message during the marches — “Grab ‘em by the midterms!” — takes on new meaning.

“It would be so beneficial to have more women involved in government on all levels,” said Chaney. “If women rally around women and are the support system for them, I think it’s very possible.”

(Kate Gienapp can be reached at 970.641.1414 or kate@gunnisontimes.com)

“I think that everyone should be able to be heard, and in my personal experience a lot of people with my point of view get shouted down. I am a pro-life woman, and I totally believe in every person’s right to believe what they believe, but a lot of times as a pro-life woman we’re not welcomed.”
Jane Chaney