At 2020 Women's March In Phoenix, Solidarity Leads To Optimism

By Scott Bourque
Published: Sunday, January 19, 2020 - 4:04pm
Updated: Monday, January 20, 2020 - 2:05pm

2020 Women
Scott Bourque / KJZZ
People sign a petition at the 2020 Women's March at the state capitol in downtown Phoenix, January 19, 2020. One of the main themes at the rally was voter registration and outreach.

For the fourth year in a row, people gathered at the state Capitol for the Women’s March on Sunday. This year, the focus was on raising awareness for local candidates and encouraging people to vote in the upcoming Democratic primary.

The first Women's March occurred in 2017. Between 3.3 million and 4.6 million people participated, and it represented the largest single-day protest in American history.

Ann Muntter (Left) sits with her cousin Christine (right) at the 2020 Women
Scott Bourque / KJZZ
Ann Muntter (Left) sits with her cousin Christine (right) at the 2020 Women's March at the state capitol in Phoenix, January 19, 2020.

After three years and three Women's Marches, people like Ann Muntter see positive change — not in policy or from politicians, but from their fellow marchers.

“It gives us hope each time we march together to say this is not okay, I think it’s healing on some level, that all of this hatred is coming up, showing how our democracy was working, and now it’s being taken away from us," Muntter said. "We have to educate ourselves and work together. ... We have to work collectively together to maintain what we have."

"Things have gotten a lot worse," said Carolyn O'Connor, who was running the booth for the Uncage and Reunite Families Coalition. "What this has brought out is a coalition of people working together against this administration."

Jana Granillo, who was working the booth alongside O'Connor, says the movement brings her hope.

“I think it’s helped mobilize a united front against the ... what’s going on politically in policy, and (people's) underlying feelings," she said. "I think it's mobilized a lot of people. In those terms, I think it’s helped.”

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Carolyn O
Scott Bourque / KJZZ
Carolyn O'Connor (right) and Jana Granillo (left) at the 2020 Women's March at the state capitol in Phoenix, January 21, 2020.
People assemble at the 2020 Women
Scott Bourque / KJZZ
People assemble at the 2020 Women's March at the state capitol in downtown Phoenix, January 19, 2020. One of the main themes at the rally was voter registration and outreach.