On January 20, 2017, Donald J. Trump was sworn in as the United States of America's 45th president. His inauguration was a bit lackluster compared to President Barack Obama's two inaugurations. Obama's first inauguration was shared in person with an estimated 1.8 million people, but Trump's definitely did not receive that amount of love. Though it is hard to accurately count, the photos of both inaugurations illustrate the vast difference between the two historic days.

On January 21, 2017, women and men around the country (and world) demonstrated their First Amendment rights and protested the new president and sexism in the United States. The Women's March on Washington quickly went viral and spread farther than expected. The organizers of the march were adamant about keeping the the protest peaceful, and they were very successful. The Women's March didn't start out as a movement, but it quickly gained the momentum to become one. Marches broke out every where from New York and Los Angeles to London and New Delhi, totaling to 673.

Centre University student Emily Shields witnessed history after traveling to Washington D.C. to take part in the Women's March on Washington with both of her parents. A proud feminist, Shields joined others to peacefully protest for the rights of all women and took much back to Centre to reflect on.

Shields went to D.C. with love in her heart, ready to fight for what she believes, saying that she was marching "for all the people and communities that had been marginalized, bullied, or disenfranchised during our last election." Shields and the other marchers were "not marching to demand that Trump leave office, or demand that Hillary take his place. [She] was marching to show [her] love and support for [her] fellow Americans."

Shields attended the march with her mother and father, stating that her parents are her best supporters and have always allowed her to form her own opinions, "even if it might not align with what they believe." Shields and her parents shared their first march experience together, something Shields will forever cherish. Shields said that having her dad there was very normal, considering he's always been an empowering force in her life. "It's great to have a feminist for a dad, but some people aren't so lucky. I think that his presence was more important to the young boys and the men there than it was for the women," said Shields about her father. "As a confident, comfortable, and supportive man he showed that it's time to stand beside the women in your life as they fight for what they believe in."

Shields recalls that the crowds during the march were very respectful, but the sound system at the rally wasn't the best, She had a hard time hearing the speakers, but her highlighted speaker was Ashley Judd reciting the poem "I am a Nasty Woman", written by Nina Donovan. Emotions were high at the march. Shields "cried driving into the metro station thinking about all the people participating all over the world." She also realized how privileged she was to take part in all of the opportunities she's had in her life, cried driving into the metro station thinking about all the people participating all over the world the march.

Perhaps the most interesting part of such a march is the signs held by marchers. Shields and her family enjoyed reading their fellow marchers' creative signs. One of the most powerful ones she saw said "All our Sisters, not just our Cis-ters." Shields says that that "sign was especially important in a crowd full of signs that basically made the claim that only those with vaginas were real women, or had any power. It's important to remember that not everyone with a vagina is a woman, and not all women have vaginas." That sign shed light on the ever-growing intersectional feminism, which Shields greatly loves. The funniest one she saw said, "Without Immigrants, Trump would have no wives." It definitely poked fun at Trump's known immigration policies.

The clothing statement of choice at the Women's March was the "p*ssy hat", from the P*ssyHat Project. Shields and many others sported the popular headgear, which are pink knit caps that look like there are ears coming out of them. The name is a nod to it looking like a cat's ears but, also, to Trump's infamous conversation with Billy Bush.

When asked if she could say anything directly to the country's new president and his administration, Shields wants Washington to know that "this was just Day 1. This movement doesn't end here." To support the movement, you can purchase a t-shirt here. All proceeds go to the Women's March campaign and movement.

There's so much more to be said and done. Trump might not have taken the march seriously, as he tweeted, "Watched protests yesterday but was under the impression that we just had an election! Why didn't these people vote? Celebs hurt cause badly."

Watched protests yesterday but was under the impression that we just had an election! Why didn't these people vote? Celebs hurt cause badly.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January">https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/8231500... 22, 2017

The men and women protesting on January 21 all over the world have made their statement heard. Just as Emily Shields said, that was only the first day. Don't be surprised when the revolution begins.