A step together in the right direction

I’ve discovered the joys of marching. Cutting up cardboard and finding a broomstick for a banner, packing a backpack with snacks and a phone charger and Tubing into town on a Sunday to march.  

Last Sunday was March4Women, run by Care International and dedicated to gender equality and a more equal world.  

While some think equality is a reality, the issues raised such as the gender pay gap, domestic violence, sexual violence as a weapon of war, sex slavery and equal representation in Parliament prove otherwise. There is a long way to go. 

With my group of Jewish, Muslim and some Christian women, marching as Nisa-Nashim, we squeezed our way into the VIP enclosure for selfies with Mayor Sadiq Khan, a self proclaimed feminist, Sandi Toksvig of the Women’s Equality Party, Helen Pankhurst (descendent of Emmeline) and actor Michael Sheen. 

We were an unlikely looking group, clearly from different backgrounds and communities yet all chatting, smiling, posing for the camera, and listening to the speakers. 

Of course it rained, but not much, and as we arrived at the end of the march for the rally with thousands of other women, and men, in Trafalgar Square,  the sight of people chanting, singing, waving their banners and being above all, together, was inspiring.

One way to change the world is to run social action projects (and of course Mitzvah Day is a great vehicle for that) but sometimes, just to shout about it, and to feel connected to other people who feel the same recharges the winter batteries and reminds us that we can be part of change if we are just prepared to get a bit wet.