Supporters of the national Women’s March gathered on January 21 in Kansas City at rally in Washington Square Park, near Crown Center.

Mayor Sly James gave a brief speech at the rally. It was followed by a testimonial from Taylor Hirth, sharing her own experience with rape and sexual harassment.

Among the crowed were Margarita Araiza Villegas, a junior at Park University studying science education, and Emma Givens, also a junior at Park University studying marketing and international business.

“I was not happy with the way the electoral college voted, and I have to specify electoral college because he lost the popular vote by 3.5 million votes. I went through a mourning period, but with the inauguration I really felt a sense of doing something. I could not be seated any longer,” Givens said.

When asked what this march meant to her, Villegas said “ Its all about how we keep the momentum going. We cannot let up; we have to keep fighting for the right thing.”

Both students agreed that the march gave them hope after the results of the election.

“It validated my efforts to continue to fight for equality” Givens said.

“It gave me empowerment, hope, and it was nice seeing so many people that believe in equality” Villegas said.

On the same day, protests were held in all seven continents, including Antarctica.

Across the country an estimated 3.5 million people participated in the Women’s March. With 350 cities participating in the US, the women’s march of 2017 will be a day that goes down in history as the biggest march/rally in America.