“I marched to send a reminder to our elected representatives that they need to work on behalf of all of us. Marchers carried signs with a variety of messages, but fundamentally, everyone there was demonstrating that they cared about our country's founding principle of ‘liberty and justice for all.’  Those rights extend to individuals regardless of race, gender, immigration status, or religion. The new administration has denigrated the free press and labeled criticism as ‘fake news,’ even while his spokespeople make use of ‘alternative facts.’ As scientists, educators, and citizens, it is our responsibility to bear witness to the actual facts. Our elected officials, including our Senators and Representatives at the state and federal level, cannot deny our numbers and our collective voices. It was heartening to join in the march with so many concerned citizens from Tennessee. This was my first march, but it won't be my last!” – Dr. Sally York, MSTP Associate Director

 

“Seeing the rights of others—women, minorities, etc.—so boldly threatened by President Trump has been unnerving. Sitting on the sidelines, critiquing but not acting, was woefully insufficient. This was an opportunity to say something that I so firmly believe—that we’re all better off when each of us is better off. That’s why I marched.” – Matthew Stier, MSTP G4

“I marched both as a woman and as a future women's health care provider. I believe all women have a right to reproductive health care and the right to choose what is best for themselves and their lives. I have personally seen the tremendous benefit that increasing health care access has had on the lives of my patients. I hope by marching to have increased awareness of this great need and to have increased the conversation around advancing both women's and truly all people's health care.” – Emily Buttigieg, VMS4

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“I marched because contraception and abortion are necessary components of health care, and they are services that are threatened by the current administration.” – Shervin Etemad, VMS2

 

 

 

 

“What impelled me to march was, in part, reactionary to the recent political upheaval. But it was also the belief that great strides still need to be made to promote equality and equal opportunities, regardless of gender. It was inspiring to march with fellow medical students and Nashvillians and to feel the surrounding energy expressing, ‘yes, women can be strong, intelligent, and independent, and we deserve the justice, health care, recognition, etc. that we are still fighting for.’ – Eileen Shiuan, MSTP G2

"I marched to say to the 160 million women of this country that I will not silently assent to chauvinism as a man calls you a ‘dog’ or a ‘pig.’ I marched to say that I will not turn my cheek when a man shames you for your body of any size, calling you a ‘bimbo’ or a ‘fat, ugly slob.’ I marched to say that a man who degrades a woman does not represent me. I marched to say that a man who calls his wife ‘that’ does not know the same love I know. I marched to say that I will not stand idly by as a man ‘grabs [you] by the pu**y’ or a husband opines that ‘putting a wife to work is a dangerous thing’. We marched to say that we are done being a public that implicitly and explicitly endorses the dismissal of women as workers, as producers and owners of goods, and as humans. I marched to say that I am a man, and I refuse to stand aside and watch you fight, because I must stand with you. We marched to show the women of this country, and each other, that you are not alone. – Michael Raddatz, VMS2

“My father, an endocrinologist in southern Virginia, is a quiet, reserved man. When I was a teenager, I was surprised to realize that through kindness and devotion to his patients and thoughtful, strategic civic involvement, he had been a steadfast advocate for the civil rights of racial minorities and the LGBT community since the 1960s. Today, he remains the only physician to provide medical treatment for transitioning transgender individuals in a several-hundred-mile radius. It is in his spirit that I chose to get involved with the school’s participation in the march. I did not march with the intent to denigrate those with opposing views or specifically insult the President. Instead, I marched to publicly demonstrate that through both service in the medical profession and thoughtful civic involvement, I have committed to resolutely support progress in civil rights for the entirety of my career.” – Jessica Burris, VMS2

“I marched to combat political ideologies founded in bigotry and expressed with hatred; to express my belief in the human right to safe, effective, and affordable health care; and to lend my voice to the voiceless, that they may be heard.” – Kevin Graepel, MSTP G2

“Students for a National Health Program (SNaHP) got a notice about this march from the Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP) President, Dr. Carol Paris, who actually lives in Nashville but was marching in D.C. Under a Medicare for All System (the preferred solution of PNHP), women and marginalized groups would face far fewer issues with accessing needed health care, so the march was naturally something we were hoping to promote. Since last year, we had been looking to collaborate on an event with Medical Students for Choice (MSFC), and I am especially happy that it turned out to be this event, which was so deeply meaningful to many participants. The Council of Class Officers also chose to support the effort by paying for students to travel to the march. It certainly sends a strong message that activism and engagement should rank highly among the many priorities of medical students.” – Monisha Bhatia, VMS3

“I marched wearing a pink hat that my mom (a bona fide ‘nasty woman’) sewed while preparing for to the Women’s March on Washington. I marched because President Trump himself has a documented history of making incredibly degrading remarks about women and has been accused numerous times of sexually assaulting women. The current administration wants to restrict access to health care and reproductive rights, promote racially biased policing tactics, ban the immigration of Muslim families, and remove protections and equality for LGBTQIA individuals. These discriminatory policies are already being implemented during the new administration’s first two weeks in office. Furthermore, as an aspiring physician-scientist, I am concerned about the Trump administration’s misunderstanding of the word ‘fact,’ complete disregard for scientific evidence, and attempts to restrict government-employed scientists from communicating with the public. I marched because the people in our country and the world deserve so much better. I’m done being complacent, and I’m going to be a better intersectional feminist.” – Rachel Brown, MSTP M2

“President Trump’s actions should not be normalized. He is a demagogue with a litany of ethical conflicts, an antagonistic relationship with the truth, and little regard for the Constitution. Sadly, this new President has shown disdain for any group that he can paint as outsiders. His disregard for the most vulnerable among us is the antithesis of what the United States of America should exemplify. His appointees, both foreign and domestic, appear to require little more for nomination than scorn for their future organization and anything that falls within its purview. The Republicans seem to have little ability to hold Trump accountable and Democrats have been notoriously absent during midterm elections. My aspiration is that marches like this one will galvanize engagement long enough to shift congressional power away from the current appeasement. The next four years will likely be a relentless attack on the ideas that make America a beacon of hope for so many around the world. It is up to us to protect that hope. I marched to protect that hope.” – Joseph Luchsinger, MSTP G1

If you are interested in learning more about the organizations represented at the March or identifying ways to get involved, please see the resources below.

 

Medical Student Groups:

• Students for a National Health Program
• Medical Students for Choice

Organizations Represented at Power Together Tennessee:

• Healthy and Free Tennessee
• Tennessee Healthcare Campaign
• Gideon’s Army
• Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition
• Mijente
• Project Return
• Nashville Feminist Collective
• Homes4All Nashville
• Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition
• Tennessee Advocates for Planned Parenthood
• National Women’s Liberation Women of Color Caucus
• American Muslim Advisory Council
• Women for Tennessee’s Future
• Open Table Nashville
• Planned Parenthood of Middle and East Tennessee
• Tennessee Stories Project

March for Science:

• March for Science D.C.
• March for Science Nashville

Upcoming Events in Nashville:

• We All Belong Vigil and Rally (February 1^st)
• The Executive Order on Immigration: Legal and Policy Issues (February 2^nd)
• Advancing Equality Days on the Hill (February 7^th, March 7^th, April 4^th)

Additionally, text “Daily” to 228466 to receive Daily Action Mobile Updates, including how to contact your legislative representatives. (Advertised at the No Ban, No Wall protest in front of Senator Bob Corker’s West End office on Sunday, January 29^th.)

 

Disclaimer: The viewpoints expressed by the authors do not necessarily reflect the opinions, viewpoints and official policies of Vanderbilt University.