By Christina Prum

Staff Writer

BOSTON – “We have a vision and that vision defines who we are as a people. First, we fight for basic dignity and respect for every human being period. No compromise. No backing up,” Senator Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, declared to the audience of approximately 125,000 people including a contingent from LHS and even the Head of School.

On the morning of January 21, 2017, an overwhelming number of riders shuffled into the Lowell Kennedy Center to catch the 9am train bound to North Station. The majority of the passengers were on their way to the Boston Women’s March For America which was going to convene on the Boston Common at 11am.

Whilst boarding the train, the attendees clapped and cheered for one another. Every time a person with a P**sy Hat or a poster walked down the aisle, a thundering applause ensued. When a child or male attendee appeared, the cheering was amplified.

According to the March For America official website, participants were to “march in solidarity with all communities most affected by the hate, intolerance and acts of violence being perpetrated throughout the nation—among many are communities of women, immigrants, people of color, people who identify as LGBTQIA and people with disabilities.” Attendees were easily identifiable by the infamous P**sy Hats, or a variety of demonstration posters.

All of the applause prompted a woman in the aisle to joke, “I wonder if some of these people are just on their way to work!” After every passenger boarded, the train cars were almost at full capacity. A quick reminder that the Lowell Kennedy Center was only the 1st stop out of the 8 more that followed.

“All are welcome,” the Boston Women’s March official website states. Participants came from all different walks of life. There were: young, old, women, men, nonbinary, white, poc, religious, and nonreligious people alike. Some were artists, photographers, activists, and even educators.

The Lowell High Head of School Brian Martin was one of the hundreds that boarded the train from Lowell to the Boston Common.

According to the official Facebook event page for the Boston Women’s March for America, 52,000 people had indicated that they went to the march. After the event, Boston Police estimated that 125,000+ people had attended.

Nearly twice the amount that was anticipated. In accumulation with the other various marches that took place across the world and the US, the Women’s March is the largest one-day demonstration in US history.