Making a statement: Men, women and children advocated for reproductive rights at the March for WomenÕs Lives in Washington

Three buses left from Oberlin on Saturday brimming with around 200 Obies eager to participate in the March for Women’s Lives in Washington D.C. CNN estimated the total attendance at between five hundred and 800 thousand people.

“We had three buses and Brown University had only one. I think we should be proud of that,” first-year Miriam Drapkin, who took part in the March, said.

“The bus rides there and back were really surreal because they were both during the night,” first-year Casey Ashenhurst said. “It was cool to see such a diverse group of people for a common goal.”

The stated goal of the march was protecting reproductive rights, but the message went much deeper than a simple “my body, my choice.”

“It wasn’t really all about abortion, but about women’s health care, sex education and many other issues,” Ashenhurst said. “There was a very good array of people and issues.”

People carried signs that read “Real Sex Education Saves Lives.” Nearly every speaker brought up the necessity of over-the-counter emergency contraception. Parental consent laws were universally condemned.

As expected, the issue brought out counter-protesters, but their numbers appeared paltry to the Obies who attended.

“I was surprised there weren’t that many pro-life people,” Ashenhurst said. “They were at the side and a human chain of policemen were separating the two groups, but this measure was only there to mediate, not to intimidate.”

“It was really cool being there. It was the largest march for women’s reproductive rights since 1992,” College first-year Kathryn MacBride said. “It was very calm and peaceful, yet empowering.

“My personal favorite was Hillary Clinton,” MacBride said. “She was amazing, very eloquent and she touched on broader topics than just the march.”

Mobilizing the vote was high on everybody’s list of priorities. The former first lady reminded the crowd that 12 years ago a pro-choice president was voted into the White House. Later in the rally, comedian Whoopi Goldberg talked about the changes that need to take place on the abortions matter in the next few years. She said that anyone who is eligible to vote in the upcoming elections and doesn’t has not even the right to “complain about the weather.”

There were some people who felt that the march’s politicized nature minimized its impact.

Radical Activist Collective of Oberlin member Arthur Richards expressed discontent with the women’s protest.

“Personally, I thought the whole thing seemed like a push to get everyone to vote for Kerry, which seemed shameless and of little use,” he said.

In the assembly actress Cybil Shephard stood up with her daughter and hooted, “Maybe because of his name Bush thinks he knows what’s better for our bushes than we do!”

The actress Kathy Najimi (Sister Act) commended the crowd for their patience. In order to reward them she flashed in front of a live C-SPAN feed. Her elementary-school aged daughter ended the speech with, “We’re all feminists and we’re making a change!”

Celebrity speakers included Ashley Judd, Camren Manheim, Julianne Moore, Lynda Carter (Wonderwoman), Kathleen Turner, Ted Turner, Janeane Garafalo and Ana Gasteyer with her two-year-old daughter.

Musical acts included performances by electronica superstar Moby, who led a group sing-along of “For What It’s Worth” and rock legend Carol King who performed “I Feel the Earth Move.” Activist folk-rocker Ani DiFranco also performed two songs that incorporated music and politically charged poetry.