Arlingtonians Making History
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Arlingtonians Making History

Amidst a light drizzle on Saturday morning, a bus full of Arlingtonians and out-of-town friends and relatives leaves from Rock Spring UCC at 9 a.m. Signs are crammed between seats and the demand for pink “pussy” hats is greater than the supply. The Rev. Kathy Dwyer, front right, grabs the microphone “just like in church” and gives announcements “just like in church” on the return trip, the buddy system and how to text her any changes in plans.

Amidst a light drizzle on Saturday morning, a bus full of Arlingtonians and out-of-town friends and relatives leaves from Rock Spring UCC at 9 a.m. Signs are crammed between seats and the demand for pink “pussy” hats is greater than the supply. The Rev. Kathy Dwyer, front right, grabs the microphone “just like in church” and gives announcements “just like in church” on the return trip, the buddy system and how to text her any changes in plans. Photo by Shirley Ruhe.

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

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Photo by Shirley Ruhe

“O.K. Count off your numbers.” Seth Kolker, who grew up in Arlington, organized a group of 42 youths to participate in the Women’s March. They are from Central Falls, R.I. where he is a teacher. Kolker says Central Falls has a median income of $14,000 and 103 nationalities in one square mile. Kolker’s father, David Kolker who has lived in Arlington since 1985, says the students came because a lot of them were pretty fearful after the election that they, or someone they knew, would be deported. They asked if there was anything they could do. Seth Kolker, says Micaela Pond, his fifth grade teacher at Key Elementary, helped organize this group after getting energized after the election. David Kolker said, “There was a special fundraiser to raise $8,000 for the trip; a lot of it came from Arlington.” The students arrived on Friday and stayed overnight at Rock Spring UCC before heading off to the March at 8 a.m. Saturday morning.

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Photo by Shirley Ruhe

Lynda Fanning, from Charlottesville, with her granddaughter Sophia Cann and her daughter Rebekah Cann, from North Carolina, are trying out the signs they made for the Women’s March. Fanning said, “We are three generations demonstrating.” Rebekah Cann said, “We talked about the issues and Sophia chose this one.” Sophia shows the sign she made Friday with magic markers, “Save our Earth, I want a future.” Sophia added, “We had to drive eight hours to get here.” The family is having egg casserole at Rock Spring UCC before boarding the bus to head for 14th and Constitution.

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By Shirley Ruhe

The youngest demonstrator at 4-years-old with her mother boards the first bus heading to the March. The first bus is leaving outside Rock Spring UCC on Little Falls Road at 9 a.m. Saturday morning. A second full bus was scheduled to leave at 10 a.m.

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Photo by Shirley Ruhe

Demonstrators waiting to leave for the march have all chosen a pink “pussy” hat knitted by Janelle Swenson (middle). Swenson says it took her about an hour each to knit at least 15 hats as a symbol of the march. She said, “Somebody put a pattern online and the idea took off.”

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