On January 20th,  millions of people across the globe united to fight for gender equality, celebrate the resilience of women and protest many other social issues. This occurred one year after the 2017 Women’s March when the vast majority of marchers protested against Donald Trump’s administration’s policies. They were galvanized by the turn out at Washington D.C. Women’s March exceeding the amount of people at the president’s inauguration itself. The spirit of last year’s march carried over to this year as people held signs above their heads, chanting phrases regarding women’s rights and other issues. The energy of peaceful activists banding together reinvigorated a sense hope for the people that experience these injustices in every community. According to their website, the Women’s March Organization is “committed to dismantling systems of oppression through nonviolent resistance and building inclusive structures guided by self-determination, dignity and respect.” Women’s marches promote confrontation of a collective amount of social issues, other than the ones that can be indicated from the title. Aspen local Kim Master was responsible for organizing the “Women’s Ski & March on Aspen Mtn.” Master announced the event on actionnetwork.org prior to the event.

“Women’s March Chapters are organizing exciting state-specific anniversary events throughout the anniversary weekend, from marches to legislative actions to community events to voter registration drives.” Master wrote.

Women’s Marches are meant to be personalized by communities depending on their priorities and character. In Aspen, protesters skied from the top of Ajax Mountain and marched across town to the Paepcke Park Pavilion upon reaching the bottom. There they were greeted by a number of political activists, and progressive guest speakers that each spoke engagingly about issues most relevant to Pitkin County. Aspen High School sophomore, Louise Lipsey, participated in the 2018 Aspen Women’s March.

“This was my first Women’s March, but I never thought it would be as fun and exciting as it was. Most of the people there were adults and I was one of the very few high schoolers there. I thought it was funny and unique that pretty much everyone was wearing ski clothes while they marched. I loved feeling like I was doing something in my community to support the causes that I care about very much. The march was a very positive experience for me, and I think that it is very important that younger generations attend women’s marches because we are the voices of the future that needs to be growing right now,” Lipsey said.

There is a common misconception that Women’s Marches are only to address women’s issues and promote avid feminism. Believing that women’s rights are human rights, and human rights are women’s rights is a primary focus. However, people march to free people of all races, genders, backgrounds, and all forms of identification from structural impediments that may limit them in society. Women’s snowboarding Olympic silver medalist, Gretchen Bleiler, spoke at the Aspen Women’s March on behalf of the Protect Our Winters Organization. Bleiler, alongside other activists, put a very large emphasis on how crucial it is in times like these to end electoral dysfunction in the polls and to get out and vote for the candidates promising to utilize their platform as an elected official to work for systematic regulations to preserve the environment. They all also discussed welcoming refugees into the United States and dignifying our democracy. This year’s march also took place during Aspen’s annual Gay Ski Week, when the entire town is lifted by the energy and love of the LGBTQ community for the week. The same pride shined through in a celebratory manner at the march. The Women’s Ski and March brought awareness and life to the Aspen community that was also felt across the nation that day.