STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK
Anyone wondering what kind of impact last year’s Women’s March had need look no further than Muffy Davis.
Sun Valley’s medalist in both Winter and Summer Paralympics games announced she would run for the Dist. 26 seat in the legislature during the anniversary march Saturday morning in Ketchum. The seat is held by Rep. Steve Miller.
“Here, a year ago in this very location at the first Women’s March in my own community I was motivated by all of you,” Davis said passionately and forcefully as she looked out across 600 men, women and teenagers huddled in Ketchum Town Square.
Davis added that it was unacceptable that 78,000 Idahoans can’t get health insurance, nor is it acceptable that Idaho is 48th in the nation in education.
“I’m running because we need more bold, impassioned voices in Boise speaking out for us today,” she said to raucous cheers.
Idaho Sen. Michelle Stennett reminded the crowd that women were the last Americans given the right to vote. Let’s not squander the efforts of so many suffragettes and others, she pleaded. Voting makes for a strong nation, and votes matter.
“We recently celebrated the legacy of Martin Luther King whose powerful words remind us, ‘Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter,’ ” she added.
Student Marisol Marquez shared how she had started a club named Nosotros (We) United at Wood River High School in September after she saw DACA friends and their families terrified they would be forced to leave the country.
“This community is helping me achieve my dream of living in a welcoming community. I’m proud to call Blaine County my home,” she added.
Eric Toshalis, who promotes equity and in public schools through engagingresistance.com, told the men in the crowd to stop feeling entitled just because they have a body part beginning with the letter t.
“The problem is not just Trump. I am the problem,” he said. “It’s easy to blame Trump. It’s better to effect change in our community, to refuse to let oppression continue.”
Susan Blair did not take part in last year’s march but said the national turmoil of the past year persuaded her she needed to show up this year.
“I’m putting my body where my money is,” said Blair, a consummate volunteer for St. Luke’s Wood River and other causes. “This is not me. But I woke up this morning and said ‘I have to do this!’ ”
While many wore pink pussy hats made famous in last year’s march, Joy Gonzalez wore a green pussy hat.
“I learned to knit making these,” she said. “In this case, green means growth and new life.”
Marchers carried a variety of signs including one that said “Prejudice is not Patriotic” and “Strong women. May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them.”
Darlene Dyer carried a sign saying “Dreamers Welcome—Pass the Dream Act.” And Judy Fox carried one that said “Respect Existence or Expect Resistance.”
Carol Harlig started to create a sign for this year’s march only to realize that her protestations on last year’s sign still fit.
“I will keep carrying it until I don’t have to,” she said. “Good grief! I wish we didn’t have to keep doing this! The goal of the current administration is to keep us numb until we say there’s so many things going on we can’t do this anymore. We need these marches to empower us, show us that we’re not alone.”
Susan Fierman echoed Harlig’s thoughts.
“Last year’s march showed that we are together a force for power and that we need to step into our power, make things happen ourselves,” she said. “Absolutely, I believe that the show of force of those who marched last year led to the #MeToo movement and the uprising against sexual harassment.”
“Last year’s march mobilized us,” added former Blaine County Commissioner Sarah Michael. “It led to people like Courtney (Hamilton) and Amanda (Breen) running for office. It mobilized us to stop talking and start acting.”