Streets filled with vibrant signs, communal emotions of perseverance and hope now gone. The echoes of the Women’s March chants can still be heard bouncing off the alleyways of major U.S. cities in memory of the historic event that empowered women on Jan. 21. I have never labeled myself a feminist, nor did I vote for a woman to be my president, but from the outside looking in, I can gladly say that I supported the men and women who marched for equality and rights.

Two million women. children, and even some men marched for equality of many marginalized groups including women and immigrants in cities from New York to Chicago, according to a Jan. 21 USA Today article. Marching for reproductive rights, immigration, and civil rights, the men and women refused to be silenced. As a conservative Republican woman, I would happily walk alongside my fellow protesters.

The march in Chicago was shut down because of safety concerns after 250,000 people showed up. Instead of marching, participants assembled into groups and walked along Michigan Avenue, chanting “This is what America looks like,” according to the same USA Today article. In Washington D.C., 500,000 protestors lined the streets, staked out in front of the White House and positioned signs toward its windows in hopes that President Trump was peering out, according to a Jan. 22 Washington Post Article.

“I think the march only made a difference…that showed how important these issues are to a lot of people; but sadly, there are still bans on immigrants..,” said Apryl Collins, junior early education major. “I don’t think they’re done fighting. There’s a lot more to come. It’s worth fighting for [despite] the outcome…stand up for what you think is right,”

President Trump and other government officials are still passing laws and working to eliminate programs and people. Participants of the marches wanted the government to support these people but the opposite has happened, such as the ban on Middle Eastern immigrants, refugees, students and workers coming to the U.S., according to a Jan. 27 New York Times article. It’s almost as if the government didn’t hear anything the millions were chanting and demanding.

Actresses Janelle Monae, Ashley Judd, Gloria Steinem, Sophia Bush, America Ferrera and Scarlett Johansson contributed to the staggering numbers across the country. Johansson revealed personal information about her own experience with Planned Parenthood.

“President Trump, I did not vote for you,” Johansson said. “I want to be able to support you, but first, I ask that you support me. Support my sister. Support my mother. Support my best friend and all of our girlfriends.” Johansson said.

I think, in some cases, if someone does not think they can help or if they cannot relate to the issue at hand, they back away—but that will not solve anything. As women, we need to stay together, and we need to fight together. We get nothing handed to us; nothing is given to us. We must fight for everything. Throughout history women have fought for their equality; voting rights and the continuous struggle to have equal pay are just two struggles we must overcome together.

On Jan. 22 Planned Parenthood and other organizations held a 2,000-volunteer training session with healthcare as a top priority and how to run the march into potential action, according to a Jan. 22 New York Times article.

“I support…equal pay [and], I understand pro-choice… [Women] need to keep bringing attention to those things,” junior environmental studies major Abby Peterson said. “Planned Parenthood isn’t just about [administering] abortion[s]—it has to do with many other issues, so stop categorizing it.”

In terms of Planned Parenthood, I believe that people should be more educated regarding what services they provide. It is not just abortions or options; they supply women with free birth control and STD testing among other services. The Women’s March was all about bringing attention to these issues, and I think the marches were successful. I do not believe that bringing attention to the issues, as the march did, will change much in society unfortunately.

More women need to get involved to make a difference because every last person counts. As a university, we need to come together, and that can start with students joining and supporting groups on campus whose purposes are to empower women. One group whose mission revolves around supporting women are the Ladies of Virtue Excellence and Empowerment (L.O.V.E.), according to Huskie Link. Another way to help would be planning our own march at NIU for people to know that we support the movement. The fight did not end with the marches but has actually just begun.