Portraits of Resistance at the Women's March on Chicago
They came. They danced. They marched in solidarity.
By Alyssa Schukar
January 23, 2017, 1:38 pm
The Women's March on Chicago closed down several streets and had an estimated 250,000 attendees on Saturday.Photo: Alyssa SchukarYasmeen Elagha, at left, and her sister Nisreen Elagha hold Palestinian flags as their cousins, from bottom right Nada Elagha, Razan Elagha and Noor Elagha cheer on the Women's March on Chicago.Photo: Alyssa Schukar"The feeling is very similar to when Obama's inauguration happened, and we all came together and there was this energy of positivity and support and love for each other," said Stephanie Berliant. "We're all here for love."Photo: Alyssa SchukarFrom left, Eva Lewis, Maxine Aguilar, Maxine Wint and Yahaira Tarr, Youth for Black Lives organizers. "Being black girls who have led protests just like this... we have seen that when we are together as one, there's power in that," Wint said.Photo: Alyssa SchukarSisters Kristine Ilagan, left, and Karelle Ilagan volunteered as marshals to help with crowd control and general logistics for the march. "Our parents were immigrants that escaped the Philippines to be not living with a dictator," Kristine Ilagan said.Photo: Alyssa Schukar"I want to bring awareness of the Middle Eastern struggle, of the Palestinian struggle, of the Muslim struggle, especially as a veiled woman. [I'm letting] people know that I stand with them, so I would like them to stand with me," Yasmeen Elagha said.Photo: Alyssa SchukarCarolyn Hall, a graphic designer, holds a President Trump effigy she created before the Women's March on Chicago. She said she was marching "so that my nieces can grow up in a world where they actually can become president."Photo: Alyssa Schukar"It's important that we stand up for women's rights with this administration. We don't want to be set back," said Kimberly Abernathy (center). She and her classmates posed on Jackson Drive.Photo: Alyssa SchukarThough Chicago native Cassidy Pipino had never been to a march of this scale, she said she felt this was an important one to join because "if you don't let the government know how angry you are, then they might not know at all," she said.Photo: Alyssa SchukarR.C. Riley and her son R. Riley, 11, watch the Women's March on Chicago. This was R. Riley's first experience at a protest march. "I was about his age when I went to my first march with my Dad." R.C. Riley said. "I think he's ready."Photo: Alyssa SchukarChristine Sheets stands with her daughters Cami Nutile, 13, at left, and Maggie Nutile, 8. "I want everyone to have their voice. We're speaking for the people who can't," Cami Nutile said.Photo: Alyssa SchukarMaria Cuaya, at left, carries a placard representing the indigenous side of her family. "I really get energized by everybody coming together, uniting for one single cause, which is to defend our rights," she said.Photo: Alyssa SchukarKaren Altergott Roberts shouts along during the rally before the Women's March on Chicago. "This kind of unity across the region is really good. We realize that we're not alone. We can make change," she said.Photo: Alyssa Schukar"I had an obligation as a minority and a feminist to come to this event to show my support," said Malik Purvis, right. "We need to be here for women, we need to be here for people of color, we need to be here for trans people," Syde Germaine (left) said.Photo: Alyssa Schukar"The message has to get out there to this Trump guy and the GOP, we are not going away. We care about everybody in this country, and shame on them for trying to stomp on our lives, our rights," said Fanny Moy.Photo: Alyssa Schukar
