Women from Texarkana and the surrounding cities are in Austin and Little Rock today, just like thousands and thousands of women will be in state capitals and other cities around the country.
Some are even in Washington, where Donald Trump was sworn in Friday as our nation's 45th president.
Maybe a friend, a relative or neighbor. Maybe someone with whom you work or attend church.
The national Women's March on Washington is today, and along with that, affiliated events are being held all over the U.S. and in other countries-about 400 in all.
The mission of the march is progressive and for some that's not a very welcome word. According to the march's website, the movement's basic belief is that women's rights are human rights. They call for gender justice and equality for women, no matter race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability or economic status. They call for equal pay, an end to violence against women, reproductive freedom, the rights of all workers to organize, a clean environment and other issues that appeal to many, but sometimes have their detractors.
Perhaps the most remarkable thing about all of this is that the Women's March on Washington and all the other affiliated events came together in just a few weeks following the November election, the result of a Twitter post that gained traction.
It is a true grassroots movement. This is something unique to our American system. We have the freedom to organize and bring like-minded people together, in a public space, and let the world know our views. And we can do it without fear.
It wasn't that long ago that Tea Party organizers were doing the same thing. And now we have the Women's March. Their goals may be different, but the spirit of community activism is the same. And it could only happen here.
No matter where you stand politically, be glad we have a free society where anyone can gather peacefully and share their views. That's as rich a blessing as we have.
