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Samantha Freeman

DFW resident Diane Baker protests against the continuing U.S. war with Afghanistan and the possibility of a U.S. war on Iraq at the 2020 Dallas Women’s March on Jan. 19. Baker was supporting CODEPINK, a women-led organization that supports peace and human rights and focuses on redirecting tax dollars into programs such as healthcare, education and green jobs. The Dallas Women’s March was one of many marches across the nation that celebrated a century of women’s voices in politics.

DALLAS – Armed with politically-charged signs aimed at the current political climate, hundreds of people participated in the 2020 Dallas Women’s March on Sunday.

At 2 p.m., the march began at St. Paul United Methodist Church just as attendees were overflowing onto the premises of a nearby 7-Eleven. Similarly to last year, a group of Native Americans protesting against racial discrimination led the front of the march.

There was an onslaught of people who made their way to Dallas City Hall. Each had their own purpose and motivation, as the Native Americans had their own, but they were unified by one thing – the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment. The right for women to vote.

Minutes before the march started, Dallas house district 107 state representative Victoria Neave stood in front of St. Paul and directed pedestrian traffic while speaking to me.

“Women’s votes are so essential in the democratic process, especially as we are fighting for change in our laws,” Neave said. “From addressing the backlog of untested rape kits, ‘Equal Pay, Equal Work’ and [promoting] change in the laws concerning sexual harrasment – we still have a long way to go”

From a giant peach with a toupe to a lengthy discourse on rape, fiery political and social messages were plastered on signs and waved through and about. 

When the march was a block away from Dallas City Hall, demonstrators were treated by counter protesters, including a man with a megaphone shouting, “Don’t look at them! They are not the reason we are here!”

On the opposite side of a barricade erected by the Dallas Police Department stood a noticeably older crowd of individuals attending a small, President Trump centered counter protest.

“I see some of their signs over there and I see some of them I agree with, so we have a lot in common, we should be united, but I think [President Donald Trump] is doing a good job,” said Louise Smith, a counter protester.

Eventually the march concluded at Dallas City Hall with a stage and multiple guest speakers each with their own take on the 19th Amendment and, subsequently, politics.

Follow Andrés Bear (@_andresbear) and @CHSCampusNews on Twitter.