NOTE: This story originally ran in 2017.
AuSable Media Group asked readers who attended the inauguration on Friday, Jan. 20, or any of the accompanying Women’s Marches across the nation on Saturday, Jan .21 if they would send in a photo of themselves, and any friends or family there were with; as well as a short statement as to what the experience was like. We appreciate the submissions and photos, and are honored for the opportunity to share everyone’s experiences.
See statements below the photo gallery.
Jason Glass
Glass, formerly of Johannesburg, resides in Richmond Virginia. He attended the inauguration and a march afterward with his friend, Brandy Horvath.
‘(We didn’t go) to protest, but to just see it. We assumed it was going to be a massive event and wanted to be a part of it.
‘To be honest, it was very low energy. A few scattered arguments. We checked out 14th street where they said riots were happening but it didn’t seem a big deal . We assumed high tensions but overall kind of low key.
‘Security was really well organized and not confrontational. Most everyone was left to demonstrate without violence.
‘We started at the Washington monument because we thought crowds would be too big, it wasn’t packed so we made it about a quarter of the way to the inauguration stage. We then walked the perimeter in hopes of seeing the after effects of the speech.
‘A lot of people were packed around the stage Michael Moore was speaking at. They kept choppers over his head to drown him out.
“All in all it was a good time and fun to see Washington set up for such an event.’
Patti Brehler
Brehler, of Lupton, attended the event with Sue Shantz of Comins and Venita Larson of Glennie. Brehler said, ‘I felt a need to do something. This election and new administration has me feeling like I’m in the twilight zone. Have we lost our minds? It is gaslighting at its finest. And I just don’t want the hard-fought rights of all of us to be set back.
‘I think I also feel a debt to the women who’ve come before me and sacrificed so much more. I’ve been a recipient of the past movement and feel like I should help the future.
‘I guess I was able to in my own way, by living life my own way, working in “men’s” jobs for most of my life GǪ It does seem like they want us to go back. I hope they are listening. But it’s hard to say. You know there were listening in Lansing for sure.
‘I am frightened (young women) too. The young women today don’t remember what it was like. They’ve been programmed with advertising and entertainment. I fear they have no tools to deal with things if Trump’s attitude becomes normalized.
‘There wasn’t (attitude) anywhere, and it was everywhere! Trump’s attitude toward women has been a trigger for LOTS of women, myself included.
‘It has been amazing at the outpouring of stories women shared about being touched, or spoken to, or abused by family members, teachers, bosses, etc, etc. It seems to have happened to all of us. I remember feeling like it is what it is and you just deal with it. We shouldn’t have to deal with it. We need to stand up to it for it to stop.
“And Trump’s talk makes it seem like it is all okay again. I’m tired of dealing with it – and still, I’m a white … woman and feel it. Can you imagine being a woman of color or woman immigrant in these times?’
Sue Shantz
Shantz said, ‘I thought about going to DC but knew it would be time and money consuming. Then I saw that there was a march planned for Lansing and Patti said she was going. I really debated about it; would it be non-violent? But the more I thought about what was at stake I just could not not go.
‘I went for all the women who came before me and fought for the right to vote, to be a human in their own right. I owed it to them to continue their work. I went to continue the fight that I have fought all my life for equal pay, equal rights, etc. I went for the women who will follow after me. For their right to live their lives to the fullest; free from sexual restrictions.
‘I owe it to them to keep working for justice and equality. I want them to have a better life, a smoother path than the one I trod.
‘The experience was nothing like I expected. We were met with smiles, kindness and openness. We talked to lots of people (Patti is a natural people person) and shared our fears, stories, hopes. It was like a huge family gathering. Families, single moms with babies, dads with their young sons, older gay couples, groups of college kids. Lots of older women with signs saying “I can’t believe we still have to fight this crap”.
‘It was an ethnically diverse crowd too. I came away feeling like I just stood with the world. I am determined that it was not just one day but the beginning of many days of standing together. I am back in my little town but I know that the women of the world are standing with me. The experience has changed me.
‘The three of us were so glad we went. I can’t communicate the positive energy we felt. The speakers were very good. The crowd was very respectful of each other and for the police who were there too.’
Sandra Anvia
Sandra Anvia attended the inauguration with her daughter, Taylor Steff, as part of of a trip with Bay City John Glenn.
She said, ‘I thought it was incredible event.
‘I did not vote for Trump but he is my president and I’m support him. I went because it was history in the making and I wanted my daughter to be able to experience a part of history.
‘For the Women’s March it was absolutely incredible and overwhelming at the number of people that were there in support of women’s rights. There were women, children, young people, old people, men, people of all races.
Brittany Jacobs
Brittany Jacobs of Roscommon attended the Traverse City Women’s March with her nephew, Hunter Randall.
‘(It was) awesome! Very empowering and peaceful. We marched the downtown area and then there was a rally.’
Jacobs said she felt it was an important event.
‘This is history in the making and I refuse to sit by idly and let someone else decide my future. I will be on the right side of history. And the past year has been so full of hate and anger, it was so nice to see so many people come out just to raise each other up.’
Cheri Hutek
Hutek, of Grayling, said, ‘It was unifying. Since this happened I’ve been more about the world. Just all of us women coming together for this, was incredible. We would stop at a gas station or rest stop along the way and every women that we talked to was going to the March. Just so awesome to experience!
‘I went because I wanted to fight for the rights that the women of the world have. And that is ALL women. Also, that we deserve the respect that we deserve from our new leader. We marched to say that we will not tolerate being denigrated. We are equal and we are not going to stop now.’
Cecilia Scow
Cecilia Scow of Roscommon said, ‘I’m deeply concerned about Trump’s agenda and his plan to dismantle our institutions by appointing individuals who oppose the purpose for their existence. Public education that effectively lifts kids out of poverty, the EPA that protects our natural resources from plunder, and a justice department that defends the hard-fought rights of vulnerable people.
‘The ACA is a fragile system serving millions, and there appears to be no alternative in sight as it is being “repealed and replaced’.
She also fears the safeguards that protect our freedoms are disappearing as a result of the words and actions of the president.
‘His disgusting remarks about women, and his callous and crude language prompted me to join others and march. I wanted to add my physical presence to show that we matter, we care, and we are watching what’s going on. One of my sisters lives in San Francisco so I arranged to join her for the March.’
Scow said being there was energizing and gave her hope.
‘The peaceful, orderly parade of tens of thousands of men, women and children was heartwarming despite the cold and pouring rain. It was inspiring to see the range of ages and nationalities represented,’ she added.
Jeanne Talagrand
Jeanne Talagrand went to march in Lansing.
‘It was beautiful,’ she said. ‘Grandpa, grandma, kids, grandkids … LOVE. ‘Samantha…our oldest (17) rode a bus to Washington, DC to be there. She is sleeping on the bus right now (and) heading home.
‘Everyone was so kind. (We) loved every minute.’
Jeanne said it was important to attend the event.
‘(We went) to support the concepts of tolerance, equal rights, and to leave the world open. (It was exciting). We can’t do ‘much,’ but we can do what we can.
‘It was perfect.’
Liane and Ed Ware
Liane Ware and her dad, Ed Ware, attended a march in Santa Rose, California. Liana is a 2011 graduate of Roscommon High School. Ed maintains the family home at Higgins Lake.
‘My dad and I went to the local march in Santa Rosa, CA. We happened to luck out after leaving a Habitat for Humanity fundraising brunch to be able to catch some of the songs and speeches, join in the crowd, and then march. The whole event was…moving, and I don’t mean that lightly.
‘As for my feelings on the Women’s March and why I wanted to attend … well (no matter the name it took to pick up speed and grow), I think the march was the vehicle for people to come together and demonstrate that they all share at least ONE thing in common with each other (and billions of others), and that ONE thing is enough to join up and show solidarity and support across the board.
We are not supporting and we are not being indifferent toward blatant, systematic, ignored oppression of those who are different from oppressors in power with authority.
‘Collectively, we are not of a specific race, color, origin, class, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, ability or disability, religion, age, etc. We are not going to stop protecting and fighting for our civil and human rights and those of people who need our help. We are not going to sit back and let progress be lost, and we are not going to be satisfied with past progress as it stands. We are not out to get anyone of a specific definition of person, but we will not be defeated by those who may be out to get us.
‘I can’t count the number of times tears welled in my eyes and my throat tightened (in a positive way finally, since election day). The experience was incredible, and being there was eye-opening, strengthening, encouraging, and motivating.
‘There IS strength in numbers – the SF Bay Area will continue to show up, and after seeing the nation- and worldwide game faces that took to the streets on Saturday, I think we know we’re all on a great team.
Mitch Mertz
Mitch Mertz is originally from Rogers City. He attended the inauguration with his wife, Mary.
‘The experience was very interesting. Saw a lot of angry protestors, but many more strong supporters of Trump. We saw Donald and his family as well as Mike Pence get out of their vehicles and walk down Pennsylvania Ave. to the White House.
‘It took 4 hours in line just to get past security to get in to the event. I’ve never seen such tight security. Debate about crowd size was certainly impacted by lack of Federal (Government’s) preparedness to screen (the crowds) to get into the event. Lot of people were not able to get in – so crowd size was impacted.’
Ray Preibe
Ray Priebe, formerly of Grayling, attended the Lansing March.
‘(It was) thoughtful, respectful. Huge,’ he said. ‘There was a sea of people. I thought it would be 2,000 people at most. I would say it was closer to 10-12k.’
Priebe said most of the people were there for issues related to the election.
‘There weren’t many people talking politics,’ he said. ‘The speakers talked about their past, one was a Muslim teacher, another was helped at a Planned Parenthood after she was raped.
‘Another was an educator and activists for local Lansing issues. I wish I knew her name, she was a powerful speaker. She talked about the direction we were headed, how it could impact our lives locally and steps we needed to take to organize and be represented in DC.
Janene Nesbitt
Janene Nesbitt is from Roscommon and currently resides in Grand Rapids. Her mom is Heather Little of Roscommon.
Nesbitt was part of more than 7,000 National Guard soldiers and airmen representing 44 states, three U.S. territories and the District of Columbia started arriving in the nation’s capitol Wednesday to support security efforts for the 58th Presidential Inauguration.
Janene said she’s part of the 126th infantry of the Michigan National Guard, 119th Field Artillery. She spent five years in the Army reserves. She volunteered to attend.
‘I wanted to go because I felt like it was a once in a lifetime sort of opportunity. Regardless of my political views, it is an honor to provide military support for the transfer of power from our old commander in chief to our new one.’
Janene said it’s important for people to know the event went smoothly.
‘If you can find a way to add it, I think it’s important for people to know that the event went pretty smoothly. There was protesting but the violence was very minimal and the couple of little sparks of violence were put out pretty quickly and smoothly. I do not feel (the event was portrayed accurately). I was there and I think it went nearly as well as it possibly could have. No lives lost and no one seriously injured.’
‘Mission accomplished.’
