About 40 Nome-ites bundled up and took to the streets Saturday afternoon for the 2018 Nome Women’s March.
The event was one of hundreds taking place around the world on the anniversary of the first Women’s March and President Donald Trump’s inauguration. Demonstrators promoted equal rights for women and minorities, from LGBTQ people to Native Americans, and denounced President Trump and his behavior towards women.
Nome march organizer Jenny Mills writes in an email, “Trump is moving steadily down his list of people who are not worthy of being Americans. Where does it stop? Beyond that, our president brags about sexually assaulting women.”
Others participating in the March didn’t even mention the president.
“It’s a women thing, it’s a walk, get some fresh air. It’s a good thing. It’s a positive thing.”
That’s Caroline Agiaviniq. She’s originally from King Island.
“I’m named after my dad’s mom. Her name is Agiaviniq. So I’m walking in honor of my grandma and my mom.”
Many were out with their own family: mothers and their girls, husbands and wives. Though it wasn’t quite as cold as last year, it was five below as the group of kids, adults and elders gathered in front of the Post Office. Led by a police escort, their route took them down Front Street and then north to Anvil City Square. People wore pink coats and hats to promote feminism, and carried signs with slogans like “Girl power,” “Respect all” and “We must do better.”
Zoe Fuller and Nick Treinen brought their dog, Dina, who wore a sign reading “53% percent of white women voted for Trump. We have work to do.” Fuller says there’s a larger issue, though.
“Patriarchy permeates every facet of our culture, and it’s so invisible, so any way to get it out in the open more is encouraging.”
Those who showed up said they were encouraged to see others marching, even if there were only half as many of them as last year. Nome resident Nikki Braem says she’s looking on the bright side:
“It’s been a hard year for a lot of folks. Some of the events have been dismaying. But there’s hope, and all of us can get engaged in the community even if we can’t go to a march in Washington.”
Another participant, Marty Ruud, has some specific advice on community engagement:
“Just register to vote. My philosophy is that there’s more good people than bad people. So people need to examine their conscience and vote their heart, and let’s turn this around.”
Ruud highlights a focus of this year’s Women’s Marches: building momentum for Democrats leading into this year’s midterm elections. According to the Center for American Women in Politics at Rutgers, nearly twice as many women (598) are currently running for U.S. Congress or statewide office than at this point in 2014. Most (427) of them are running as Democrats, but not all. In Alaska, both women running for lieutenant governor — Lynn Gattis and Edie Grunwald — are Republicans.
The Nome Police Department says it’s not aware of any further marches or counter-protests currently planned to take place in Nome.
All photos by Gabe Colombo, KNOM.
