Saturday 21st January saw the world unite as they protested Donald Trump’s inauguration. The UK, along with the rest of the world, saw thousands of people across the country getting involved to express their rights and show support to America’s Anti-Trump campaign. Cardiff, the capital of Wales, were no different. Within 24 hours of Trump being sworn into Presidency, Cardiff was one of the many countries to march through their city centre in protest. The march was hosted by Welsh organisers Cardiff Sisters of Solidarity’s Gwenno Dafydd and Claudia Boes.
Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the event due to illness, but some amazing members of the Cardiff Feminist Network were more than willing to share their experience of the powerful event. Feminist, Sam, shared with me the experience from a participant’s point of view.Â
I marched against Trump because his rhetoric makes me feel unsafe. It’s not just his misogyny. He has admitted sexual assault people still voted for him. He has encouraged hatred of muslims and people of colour, my partner is muslim and a p.o.c. He has said that vaccines cause autism – as if autism is something to be feared. My child is autistic and it’s frustrating to hear these old myths resurface after being disproven many times. I also marched in solidarity with anyone else who has now been made more vulnerable.
I had taken a break from activism because I had really felt that there was no point. I have seen my country turn from a place that I felt it was OK to be different – to a place that’s increasingly racist, insular ignorant and nasty, with no sign of things improving. With Trump in the Whitehouse and the influence that the US has over the rest of the world I didn’t see it getting better any soon, I wondered what the point was in fighting.
I arrived at the Nye Bevan statue at 1 pm and I was amazed at the number of people who gathered there. I have been to many protests in Cardiff and I have never seen such a huge turn out.
I carried the names of three friends in my pocket, who couldn’t attend any of the marches but were there in spirit.
I was so pleased to see an inclusive line up of speakers. I became a feminist at 37 and I only heard of intersectionality about a year ago, but I do think that it’s important that feminism be inclusive.
The event The event saw choir grop Côr Chochinon sing as well as speeches from the likes of Hanan Issa, Gwenno Dafydd and Marrianne Owens. Following the speeches, the crowd marched from Aneurin Bevan statue through Queen Street together in a wonderful display of solidarity.
To see so many people turn up to march, and to know that there are many more across the UK and the world doing the same things has given me the strength to take up activism again.  It also makes me feel safer to know that they have my back and I have theirs.
A massive thank you to Sam for her words and to Aimee Herd for her images. I am so proud of everyone who marched and protested as this is something I strongly believe in. I may not have been able to attend the event, but my support was and still will be continuous.Â
Did you attend a Women’s March on Saturday? What were your experiences?
I really would have liked to have gone, even if I was just vlogging or taking photos. But from what I’ve heard, there were some amazing ones globally as well as the Cardiff one 🙂
Personally I don’t feel strong enough about the subject to have attended a march. But I’m pleased to see lots of true supporters turned up to this one. Jo
I knew there was something because I’m involved with a feminist group on Facebook which is lovely. If you follow pages such as HuffPost Women, they usually post about them 🙂
If it wasn’t for the fact that what America does has an effect on the rest of the world I would be content to let them learn their lesson the hard way and hope for better in 4 years time. But, what happens there influences what happens here and the idea of Trump behaviour and alternative facts being exported around the world should not be considered satisfactory under any circumstances.
I’m getting a bit fed up with these marches, honestly. I understand it’s a good thing for women to unite under a good cause, but there are much more serious disasters in this world than the democratic election of a president.
Whether we like him as a person or not, I’m yet to see how he has oppressed women in America.
Well, to start with, he’s just signed for abortions to be banned globally. He’s also going to cut the ACA which is a literal life or death situation, as well as having 11+ sexual assault claims against him and that quite literally is only the beginning.
I didn’t attend one of the marches because in all honesty I didn’t know they were happening but it’s so nice to see what lots of women turned up x
I really would have liked to have gone, even if I was just vlogging or taking photos. But from what I’ve heard, there were some amazing ones globally as well as the Cardiff one 🙂
Personally I don’t feel strong enough about the subject to have attended a march. But I’m pleased to see lots of true supporters turned up to this one. Jo
I had no idea this was happening until it was happening! Would love to have gone
I knew there was something because I’m involved with a feminist group on Facebook which is lovely. If you follow pages such as HuffPost Women, they usually post about them 🙂
It was so inspiring to see the numbers of people who turned out in solidarity.
Fair play to you for standing up for what you believe in. Trump, and what he stands for, terrifies me.
It is interesting how the women of the world seem to be united in hatred for Trump. It will be interesting to watch the next four years.
If it wasn’t for the fact that what America does has an effect on the rest of the world I would be content to let them learn their lesson the hard way and hope for better in 4 years time. But, what happens there influences what happens here and the idea of Trump behaviour and alternative facts being exported around the world should not be considered satisfactory under any circumstances.
I’m getting a bit fed up with these marches, honestly. I understand it’s a good thing for women to unite under a good cause, but there are much more serious disasters in this world than the democratic election of a president.
Whether we like him as a person or not, I’m yet to see how he has oppressed women in America.
Well, to start with, he’s just signed for abortions to be banned globally. He’s also going to cut the ACA which is a literal life or death situation, as well as having 11+ sexual assault claims against him and that quite literally is only the beginning.