Thousands Demonstrate During Second Women’s March
BALTIMORE —As thousands gathered in demonstration for the annual Women’s March in Baltimore, tucked inside the crowd was a special subset of those advocating for change, hundreds of little girls being introduced to the important process of demanding their rights by their mothers.
For them, it was a Girls Day Out
Kate Tingly stood in the field of demonstrators with her “sidekick,” daughter, Kayla Tingly. Tingly is white and her daughter, Kayla’s father is Afro-Haitian. Being a mother to a biracial child, Tingly she felt participating in the march was her obligation to her daughter.
“As her mom, my hope is that at some point in her life, phrases such as ‘wage gap’, ‘my body, my choice’, ‘me too’ and ‘times up’ will never have to be heard again” Tingly said.
Teresa Groesch was felt it was important that her daughters participate in the march.
“I’m [unsure] if this will do much for my daughters, but I want them to at least see it,” Groesch said. Just like Tingly and Groesch, other mothers were on the scene for their kids.
Yenneca Ketzis, was there with her 8-year-old daughter. Ketzis said she was at the march to “make sure [her] daughter doesn’t have to go through any of the things I did.”
Also among the crowd, were the quiet, yet passionate pair of Darria Greer and her daughter, Amber. The two traveled to the Women’s March in Baltimore as a testament to the Flint water crisis. Thousands of Flint families have been drinking bottled water and unable to take baths after drinking water was contaminated by lead because of government malfeasance. Scores of children have been lead poisoned by the water, which can cause learning difficulties.
Greer visits marches and demonstrations across the country to remind people of the problems still prevalent in Flint. Dressed in a “Flint Lives Matter” t-shirt, Greer says that she will be at the march every year until the crisis is solved.
Greer said her 6-year-old daughter was with her because she wanted her to know the importance standing up for her rights.
“I always want my daughter to fight for what she believes in and whatever she’s passionate about” she said.
Greer said she uses every opportunity teach her daughter that she controls her own destiny.
“Every day when we wake up and before we go to sleep, we say our favorite scripture, ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’”