January 21, 2017 Women's March in Nashville

Dear Reader,
Our country is going through serious political, social and economic upheaval, and it's a very worrisome and exciting time to be an American. I have previously opted to keep politics out of my business life, but the current climate is leading me to change that position ever-so-slightly. I will be participating in and documenting some of these events as time goes on, so there will be posts involving politics and social justice issues from time to time. As always, the focus will be primarily on imagery.

I volunteered to photograph the Women's March in Nashville, one of the many branches of the Women's March on Washington across the United States (and, in fact, the world). People from many different backgrounds came together to peacefully show their opposition to the new president and his administration. I went as an observer and documentarian; I wasn't planning to officially march or chant, and I didn't have any signage.
As the day progressed, I was awed and humbled to be a part of such an incredible event. I talked with a couple of women from more conservative counties, and they expressed a newfound hope that they aren't alone in their thinking. The atmosphere was calm but invigorating, and there was sober intent, but not without joy. No matter what your political leanings, it undeniably came off without a hitch, and with double the expected attendance.
Below are some of my shots from the march. There were 15,000 people in attendance and no arrests, violence, rioting, or looting.

Lovely Cumberland Park, the scene of the rally before the march.

People making signs before the rally begins. 

There were many families with small children.

One of the women I met, Judy, lives in Columbia, TN. She is reinvigorated by the march and plans to have regular gatherings of like-minded people in her area.

A pro-life, anti-LGBTQ group met with non-violent opposition when they showed up with gruesome signs and a mixed message. 

The crowd continues to gather.

Cumberland Park was packed. You can see people still arriving across the parking lot on the left.

I don't know if this young woman was proud of her sign, to be a member of the march, or both, but she was a little ray of light in the crowd.

The march begins!

The woman with the Republican sign was a crowd favorite!

Congressman Jim Cooper in the crowd.

Second Avenue leading up to Public Square

The window box at Rock Bottom Brewery

I arrived at Public Square with the first half of the marchers. This is a shot of the pedestrian bridge from the observation deck of the parking stairway.

Since that event, there have been multiple rallies and marches in Nashville, many of which are getting higher-than-expected turnouts. My hope is that people become even more engaged as time goes on, and we become a society of people accountable to each other, who welcome and accommodate people from all walks of life.

I'm a newbie at being politically awake, and I'm actively looking for ways to improve. Here are some links that I've found relevant over the past couple of weeks:

This is a piece from Medium that addresses sign verbiage as well as behaviors that may be hurtful/exclusive to fellow members of the cause you're representing. 

This is a piece from The Bitter Southerner with personal accounts of why people marched in DC.

A few events coming up that may appeal to some folks:

We Are Watching - Rally at The TN State Capitol, Feb. 6, 3-6pm

Postcard Writing Night at Gift Horse in East Nashville, Feb. 16, 6-9pm