Changing the World One Alum at A Time: MHS Alumni Peri Munter and Ana Elephante attend the Women’s March

The Women’s March is an annual tradition beginning on the day after the inauguration of Donald Trump. 2019 marks the third march. It also marked the most controversial march yet.

Many were unable to make the march this year as a result of a “winter storm” that was falsely reported as a storm that would bury Northeastern states in the snow. As a result of this, New Jersey went into a state of emergency the day before and the march on Trenton was canceled. Though the New York City march was not canceled, many feared that they would get stranded in the city if they made the trek there. As such, many who wanted to attend the women’s march could not. Beyond that, many did not participate this year as a result of accusations of antisemitism in the Women’s March Alliance. Though some did not go to the march altogether, in New York City, there was another march born out of this controversy in Foley Square. Even though the New York march claimed they were a separate board than the D.C. one, many still were hesitant to support them. Since the Foley Square march was created at so late, it did not have a permit but nonetheless, happened without a hitch. Even though allegations of antisemitism stopped many people from marching, the turnout of the march was nothing short of astounding.

In the D.C. march, Madison High School alumni and current American University student, Anastasia Elephante, attended the D.C. march. MDO asked her about her experience this year despite the controversy surrounding the march.

 “This year was my first time at the Women’s March! Part of me was hesitant to participate only because of the surfacing issues regarding the organization and intersectionality. While the co-presidents gave speeches that “cleared the air” about the scandal, there were still clearly much fewer people marching than in previous years. I am glad that I went through- it was a truly empowering experience unlike any other march I’ve attended, and I do believe that everyone has the right to march for his or her own beliefs. Some of my friends who didn’t go said that they didn’t want to attend a “pro-abortion” event, but in reality there are a multitude of issues that people go to protest against and many of them don’t have to do with reproductive rights, but some were about Trump’s presidency and some people were just there to spread messages about powerful women in history who have made great change”- Anastasia Elephante

Another MHS alum and current American University student, Peri Munter, had attended the march as well. We are proud to find out that her statement on what the Women’s March means to her was featured on Girls Life Magazine’s  Instagram story! This can be viewed in the attached video.