`We Won't Go Back'

About 80 Harvard students joined the 200,000 strong crowd attending last Sunday's Rally For Women's Lives, an event organized by the National Organization for Women (NOW) in Washington, D.C. NOW, the largest feminist group in the country with a membership of 250,000, brought together two dozen speakers to address what they perceive to be recent backslides in public policy on women's issues.

By 10 a.m. people began to gather in front of the Capital Building for the noon rally. The crowd filled the entire grassy expanse between the stage and the Washington monument 10 blocks away. The front of the crowd was made up predominantly of students who had, for the most part, come on NOW's chartered buses.

President of NOW Patricia Ireland riveted the audience with her outspoken condemnations of the Republican government's new policies, which she said would leave women vulnerable to further violence.

"The Republicans have voted to dismantle the system of support for women which has been in place since 1935," said Ireland, who has been president of NOW since 1991. "Cuts will mean more women are exposed to violence."

Ireland has prioritized abortion clinic defense and cooperation with civil rights and minority groups for NOW. In her speech, Ireland advocated activism and awareness of women's issues.

"We have got to speak out. We have got to take power. We are a majority," Ireland said.

The crowd chanted along, raising their fists with Ireland as she shouted the rally slogan: "We Won't Go Back! We Won't Go Back!"

Other speakers included the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Rep. Chuck Shumer (D-NY), head of the Farm Workers' Union Dolores Huerta, feminist leader Bella Abzug and representatives from several national minority groups. The speakers defined violence broadly, as everything from domestic abuse, rape and antiabortion crimes to economic violence. Economic violence, several speakers said, is the result of governmental policies which disadvantage women. Each made a personal appeal to the crowd to eradicate all these forms of violence.

"We will not rest, we will not stop, until all forces of violence against women are gotten rid of," said feminist leader Eleanor Smeal.

The 5-hour speech marathon was interspersed with performances by various television stars and musicians. Each artist highlighted a particular cause in the course of the performance, often incorporating his or her message into the act.

"What makes change is our compassion and our love," said Glen Phillips, lead singer of pop band Toad the Wet Sprocket.

Other artists who performed included Joan Jett, Tyne Daly and Sharon Gless of television's "Cagney and Lacey," and Salt of Salt N' Pepa.

Students came together from all over the country, but were by no means united in their reasons for coming. Many came because it was the first big rally held since they had become politically aware. Others came for the speeches, and for the adventure. But many identified a personal cause in their pilgrimage to Washington.

Leslie Yancey, a graduate student from North Carolina, said her mother, a victim of domestic abuse, had come to the rally because it was "an important part of [her mother's] healing process."

"Today is important for healing and awareness," Yancey said. "People are here for all different reasons--to garner the power from today and take it back to our towns."

Of all the college students present, Brown University, with 400 students, had the largest contingent. They were one of the most vocal groups in attendance, chanting "Hey, Hey, Ho, Ho, Newt Gingrich has got to go!" and "we're loud we're strong, we'll vote you out before too long!" between speeches.

Several Brown students said they had come not in support of a particular cause, but simply because their friends were. Others however said they felt strongly about the issues to be discussed at the rally, and were motivated to attend.

Erica Stein '97 said she "couldn't imagine not coming" when she learned of the rally.

And president of Brown Students for Choice Andrea Lee said she came to support women, and to "strongly talk out against the Contract [for America]."

Although men were definitely a minority at the event, making up about a third of the crowd, they made themselves visible by their enthusiastic participation.

"I think it's really important for men to come," said Patrick Guarasci of Northfield Mount Hermon, a New England boarding school. "Women shouldn't have to do this alone. Feminism isn't about separate but equal, but about coming together."

Guarasci said he was particularly struck by "The Clothesline Project", a display of 6,000 T-shirts from around the world designed by female victims of violence. Each T-shirt told the story of its designer's individual experience.

"Seeing those shirts, and the murders [described on the shirts] really hit home," Guarasci said.

Several students said the sheer size of the crowd generated a sense of togetherness.

"It makes me realize that feminism isn't a selfish thing," said Wanda Vance, an undergraduate at the University of Georgia. "I'm here with all these women for all those women who can't fight for themselves."

Another emphasized the importance of collective action.

"If we unite and work together for positive change we can get what we want as women and as human beings. Our votes make a difference," said Karina Kramer Schevers, a student at the University of Wisconsin.

Other Ivy League schools represented included a 170-strong group from Columbia University.

Many Harvard students said the experience of attending the rally was a positive one.

"It was absolutely incredible just to see so many people," said Jennifer Stephen '98. "You don't need to be a politician, or a fanatic, or an intellectual, you just need to care about women."

And Deborah Kory '95 said that the rally helped to crystallize her feelings about women in society.

"Since women compile 50 percent of the population, it is particularly empowering for them to come together," Kory said. "If they truly want to reach everyone, they must take into consideration the plight of all subjugated people."

As the rally ended, the crowd slowly dispersed. Despite the heat of the day and the length of the event, many students were noticeably far less anxious to go home than they had been to come. For many, the energetic atmosphere of the rally was inspiring and motivational.

"It's an empowering thing for so many people who believe in a common goal to get together like this," said Stein.