By Makenzie MacDonald

Every year people gather together to make statements and show support for something they love and believe in and strive to express power through voice. In the month of January two very important social events occurred in Washington D.C., and across the nation,  The Women’s March gathered this year on January 19th, and The March for Life gathered this year on January 18th. Supporters voiced their missions and stood up for what they believe in.
The Women’s March was created to empower women to support each other, fight for each other and ensure fairness, respect, and dignity that all women deserve. This group of strong women, even men, fight for their unity’s principles; ending violence, reproductive rights, LGBTQIA rights, worker’s rights, civil rights, disability rights, immigrant rights, and environmental rights.
These principals represent not only what women deserve in society but shine a light on the faults that have occurred in the past in hope of preventing them from happening again in the future.
Many celebrities and activists including, Viola Davis, Adele, Natalie Portman, Ashton Kutcher, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Jake Gyllenhaal, and others have contributed to and supported the annual march.
This years 2019 march was influenced by Ariana Grande, one of the biggest singers in the past few years. Many of her songs’ lyrics from “Thank u, next,” “God is a Women,” and “7 Rings” were used as slogans during the march. The young pop star was honored that her music was involved in this march, later tweeting pictures of the posters with a black heart emoji.
Following the Women’s March, the March for Life took place on Friday, January, expressing their vision of the “world where the beauty and dignity of every human life are valued and protected.”
Jeanne Mancini, the president of March for Life, represents the mission of the march, to end abortion through unifying all those who support pro-life and educating those with opposing views of their beliefs, marching to further their voice into the world. This march began in 1973 until now and continues to draw attention and supporters from all over.
This year’s march included many speakers such as ArchBishop Naumann of Kansas City, Kansas, Senator Steve Daines of Montana, and Life Rally speakers, Ally Cavazos, and Dr. Kathi Aultman. The Sidewalk Prophets performed live music during the march.
Next years marches dates have been posted already, for the March for Life, Friday, Jan. 24, 2020 and for the Women’s March, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020.
To find more information about either events, you can go to their websites at womensmarch.com or marchforlife.org to find upcoming dates, merchandise, and local marches to contribute more support for either organization!