A year after an estimated two million worldwide rallied, marched, and took to the streets, Cobleskill’s own Women’s March II drew as many as 450 sign-waving, banner-holding supporters to Centre Park Saturday.
For more than an hour before speaker Sara Litzner took the mic, ralliers lined Main Street and chatted in small groups as protest anthems provided a musical backdrop.
Kids played in the snow, leashed dogs—including the Cobleskill Police department’s Wilson—made friends, and giant puppets Lady Liberty and Gaia wandered the park.
‘It’s definitely a different atmosphere [from last year],” said Elliott Adams of Sharon Springs, who had a hand in organizing both.
“I think it feels less frantic. We know we’re doing things, moving forward. A year ago, we didn’t have this same sense of community and camaraderie. It’s a good feeling.”
The first Women’s March followed Donald Trump’s inauguration as the nation’s 45th President by a day, and focused on candidate Trump’s remarks about women, the environment, immigration, and a border wall with Mexico—to name a few.
Saturday’s march—locally, a rally—followed by a day the government’s shutdown on spending issues, and even as their concerns remained the same, vigilers’ signs had a different message: Persist.
“The difference is that this year, people are coming here with their friends,” said Cindy Campbell of Cherry Valley, who, like Mr. Adams, had a hand in organizing both events.
“We understand what this is about and we realize we’re in it together. We understand the need to fight.”
Not everyone was there to protest actions by the Trump Administration.
Draped in American flags, Brad Hingeley and Scott Holmes, both of Cobleskill, quietly skirted the crowd and when asked, said they were there to support the President—even as they agreed they’d like to be able to find common ground with the protestors.
Both praised President Trump for the increase in jobs numbers and the strength of the Stock Market; as veterans, they applaud his efforts to strengthen the nation’s borders.
“We’re patriots and Americans,” said Mr. Hingeley. “And as Americans, we should support him.”
But vigilers like Jasmine VanRegenmortel of Cobleskill, who said she’s glad to see more of an awareness on everything from the environment to health care, disagreed.
So did Jayne Milak of Dorloo—carrying a #MeToo sign—and her friend Nancy Crane, who’s just moved to Sharon Springs.
“I’ve been involved, even way back in the 70s,” Ms. Crane said. “It’s a lot of the same reasons today. All I can think is, ‘Here we go again.’”
Lisa Zaccaglini, also of Sharon Springs, agreed; with her husband, Mike Schuster, she was helping people fill out postcards asking Congressman John Faso to support the Equal Right Amendments, a hot-button topic in the ‘70s, but actually, nearing its 100-year anniversary.
“Seriously? We’re still fighting to include women in the Constitution?”
Other volunteers also worked the crowd, collecting contact and voter registration information.
Introducing Rev. Litzner of Cobleskill’s Zion Lutheran Church, Theresa Heary of Middleburgh and Rural Awakening, said she was thrilled by the turn-out.
“We are going to make a difference,” she said.
“But only if we vote,” stressed Rev. Litzner. “Only if we actually go to the polls.
“There is still work to do. It’s easy to loose hope. It’s easy to be discouraged. But we won’t give up.