Women march on the Pentagon against war

Original story published on The Nightly Beat

WASHINGTON – The Women’s March on the Pentagon for anti-war and peace took place Sunday with guest speakers and musical performances discussing the impacts of military actions abroad.

The marchers met at the Pentagon City Metro stop and walked to the Pentagon north parking lot, where a stage was set up for those who were speaking.

Cindy Sheehan, the leader of the movement, began the march by asking those present to think of who they are marching for, and she took a moment to talk about her son’s death in Iraq- the reason she is marching.

“It’s heartbreaking to see the younger generations being sucked into the same situations we were in,” said Ellen Barfield a veteran and activist for the antiwar movement. “It’s on our shoulders now and we need to speak out against war.”

John Amidon, a member of Veterans for Peace, said he was marching because of the impact war and war preparation has on climate change.

“The military use so many fossil fuels, releases toxic chemicals when testing weapons and destroy the agriculture of the countries they enter,” said Amidon. “Unless you are blind or asleep you can’t miss it. It needs to end.”

Lucy Pagoada, a high school teacher in New York from Honduras, traveled to Washington to participate in the march for a chance to speak out about the events occurring in her country.

“They [the U.S.] need to leave us alone, they are stealing our resources, killing our people. It needs to end,” said Pagoada. “I dedicate my time to carry the truth for those who don’t have a voice.”

Although not a guest speaker at the march, Pagoada spoke to those in the crowd around her about the injustices Latin American countries have faced at the hands of U.S. government.

Pagoada marched carrying a flag of her country with the words “Fuera JOH,” which means “Leave Juan Orlando Hernández, the current president of Honduras, because of the acts of corruption and killings brought on during his term.

Charo Mina-Rojas, an activist for African Colombian women came to the rally to share a message of solidarity from her community to the women of the march.

“I solute this mobilization, this voice of women in this country standing up here not just for you but for all the woman in the world,” said Mina-Rojas.

Mina-Rojas brought up the involvement the U.S. has had in Colombian political affairs and the need for movements such as the Women’s March to oppose those actions.

“It is important that women here in the United States are standing up as we stand up in Colombia- defending life, environment, water and resources this greedy country wants for their own benefit,” said Mina-Rojas.

Pagoada and Mina-Rojas represent the communities affected in countries where the U.S. involvement in politics and the War on Drugs tears society apart.

“As a woman, there is no doubt that we are the change. [In Spanish] the word revolution is feminine, and it is us as women who need to fight and lead the movement for change,” said Pagoada