Women's March on Washington DC: What You Need to Know Before You Go

   By SheSpeaksTeam  Jan 18, 2017

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Whether you’re planning to make the trek to Washington DC, joining efforts in a sister march in your hometown, or doing something else to show solidarity like knitting a pink hat, many women, men and children are gearing up to make their voices heard this January 21st. The idea for the Women’s March on Washington was born from a grassroots Facebook conversation among women and has now become a nationally known event growing larger by the day. An ABC News report quotes co-chair of the event Linda Sarsour explaining that “one of our goals for this march is to display what it looks like when the progressive movements are working together...coming and showing one unified voice. Another co-chair of the event Carmen Perez adds, “We also want the world to know that women are leaders. We want to show our children, and specifically our daughters, they can be the next generation of leaders as well.”

If you plan on marching, there are some pretty important things to know before Saturday. The FAQ from the official Women’s March on Washington website is a great resource to make sure you are fully prepared for the day. First of all, it’s January and weather is expected to be in the 40’s and 50’s that day. This may not sound that cold to those who live in the north, but standing for hours in this weather can take its toll. So layering up, wearing hats, gloves, scarves and boots is your best bet to make sure you are comfortable during the march.

If you are marching with kids you’re probably counting all the items you will need on hand to keep them happy and occupied. For safety reasons, only small bags are allowed at the march so pack wisely. Backpacks are not permitted unless they are clear. Marchers can bring a small bag and a gallon size plastic bag for food. Breastfeeding stations are expected to be set up somewhere along the route and there will be many areas where you can exit as well. And of course, there will be plenty of porta-potties.

And speaking of porta-potties, hand sanitizer and wet wipes sound like must-have items to pack in that tiny bag. Some other must-haves might be a plastic water bottle, snacks and a city map of the DC area. If you are making signs, just make sure not to attach a handle of any kind. Wooden sticks are banned from the march and anything else that may be used as a weapon. Though no worries if you use a canes, walkers or portable seats for mobility.

It may be late in the game, but there are most definitely some who are still looking for transportation to the march on DC. The bus finder on the March’s website can help most find a route. But when you actually make it to the city, be sure to use the city’s local public transportation like the Metro to get to the march (driving in DC traffic on this day is not something anyone would recommend). In order to avoid the inevitable long lines, it is recommended that you purchase a SmarTrip card to ride the Metro before the morning of the march if you can.

How did you hear about the Women’s March on Washington DC?

Will you be attending the Women’s March on DC or any of the sister marches?