January 23, 2023 Women’s March
NWPC OC members attended the Women’s March in Huntington Beach on Sunday, January 23, the 50th Anniversary of Roe V. Wade. In light of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe V. Wade, we felt that it was an important event to attend! Marlena Truong, NWPC OC President, shares her thoughts on Sunday’s event.
Sunday's March was an inspiration. The young woman who was organizing the march, Bryanna, was younger than me. She stood up on the tables with a megaphone and told her story about having an abortion at 19 and that if she hadn’t, she would likely be dead today. Her voice wavered and she choked up a bit, but the crowd cheered her on. We marched through the streets of Huntington Beach, down to the pier and back; it was so empowering. Though Huntington Beach is a conservative city, in terms of its views on reproductive rights, we encountered much support. Business owners stepped out of their stores to wave and cheer us on and restaurant diners gave us thumbs up from their tables.
I spoke to Bryanna and asked her how she decided to host the march, which was her first foray into political activism. She said she noticed there wasn't a march nearby, sent in the application, and was approved. I shook her hand and told her I admired her for organizing it all on her own. Though it wasn't perfect, the spirit of the first march shone through the entire time. We marched together for ourselves, for other women, and for future generations. It was an empowering afternoon that will stay with me for many years to come.
