Before I start stepping on marches around the globe, I’ll post my own.

It was an excellent day. I went with my sister down to the State Library in Melbourne and the steps up front were rapidly filling. There was alot of joyous energy. So many nasty women tees, a bunch of knitted pink caps and a smattering of Yankee expats with signs bearing their dismay at their homeland’s new president.

Nasty Women represent!#WomensMarchMelbourne pic.twitter.com/hkBKv6f48U

— Alyosha (@mediocremensch) January 21, 2017

The place was soon packed with all sorts of folk. There were no-fooling Marxists milling about, canvassing for potential supporters, but you’ll always have that at such events.
I even picked up a leaflet from the Socialist Alternative; a group into which I was myself recruited in an antiwar march in 2005. That was a bit grating. And one of the speakers trucked in the kind of rhetoric I’ve come to despise.
Magical balance fairy-ism, with which most here are familiar.
One speaker was incredibly forceful and preached political inclusion and participation while not making a travesty of class consciousness. Still trying to figure out who she was.
The march got underway and it was a lovely experience. Chants and songs wafted down the column in mostly women’s voices. They sang ‘I will survive’ and cars honked their horns at us. Whether in solidarity or not, it was thrilling.

#WomensMarchMelbourne pic.twitter.com/Vu5qNT877W

— Alyosha (@mediocremensch) January 21, 2017

Then we assembled before the state Parliament.

Nasty people uniting in Melbs! #WomensMarch #womensmarchmelbourne pic.twitter.com/glCf1FCqa5

— Julia Claire (@JuliaCNicholson) January 21, 2017

And a chant of ‘Yes we can!’ Surged through us. I will admit to unabashedly joining in :)

Chants of ‘Yes We Can!’

This one’s for you, Obama.#WomensMarchMelbourne pic.twitter.com/HjJmvBUFLK

— Alyosha (@mediocremensch) January 21, 2017

I’ll add that the flags are at half-mast because a man with a history of domestic violence plowed his car into pedestrians a few blocks away, killing four.

If anything, it made the march even more important.

Over a couple of pints, my sister and I discussed anything and everything; energised by the demonstration.
We know America isn’t perfect. That many here sometimes regard it as a joke of obscene proportions.
But we know, as you do, that there is so much about your country that is not only worth preserving; but which continues to provide a template of liberally-minded action to the rest of the world.

Never give up hope.

PS. This is for Stanley :D

Seagull sit-in#WomensMarch pic.twitter.com/8N2aHanYIO

— Alyosha (@mediocremensch) January 21, 2017