WAAM On the Road

Back in September there was a whole lot of concern about our DC landing. Not the march actually getting there (National Guard presence be damned). Not the amount of water required (which we should have been worried about). Not even about damaging the turf on the National Mall (well, maybe Johnny was worried, but that’s another story).

The landing had to be impactful. Would Congress still be there? (Yes, but barely.) Would the press finally show up? (Check out the AP story.) Who would speak? (Senator Van Hollen, Representative Green…it turned out more people than we had time for!) 

From a marching band to giant banners to a safety team, our WAAM family from 50501DC organized an impressive landing. Like us, they were green organizers who planned the event with great precision in such a quick turnaround it rivaled our own organizing efforts.

Yet I’m not here to write about the landing but about the miles along the way. From the flotilla planned by our community at Together We Will Harford, to the potluck and acupuncture thanks to our friends along the Route 1 Corridor, to the lasagna dinner, music and speakers courtesy of MoCoWoMen and Do The Most Good – each stop included dedicated community members, genuine connection, and proof that we aren’t alone in our resistance and will not be alone when it’s time to rebuild. 

Not too many pictures of the flotilla -- everyone was on boats!

I was talking earlier with a good friend about pilgrimages. She reminded me that it’s the journey that’s important. Without the journey -- every step changing each of us -- the end loses its meaning. These pilgrimages are as American as apple pie and baseball. From the Faulkner classic As I Lay Dying to the quintessential summer road trip to Amazon’s current hit Fallout, journeying is baked into our national character.

I’ll admit that I don’t know nearly enough about our country. I haven’t traveled widely. I’ve never seen the Grand Canyon nor eaten a beignet or fried green tomato. But when I hug Tracy in Wilmington, borrow sunblock from Pastor Mike in Newark, share a beer with Jamie and John in Elkton, talk about grabbing a meal with DeLane in Havre de Grace (how have we still never made it to dinner?), commiserate with Johnny about that DC turf, I’m reminded that these connections are the reason we journey. Our country is unique because of its people – our resilience, our fury and our hope.

The march in September reinforced this truth. At a time when AI erases our voices and the government literally white-washes our communities, with every mile we march, each Dunkin Donuts bathroom we visit and each person we talk to, we reclaim the American journey and American spirit. This is why I march: to ignite a genuine referendum on the character and future of our country. Will you join me?

WAAM marches April 11th-25th.

We are still accepting CORE MARCHERS! ← Click to register!

All DONATIONS are greatly needed, very appreciated and totally tax-deductible.

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