By Kathy Johnson

(Photo: Thompson bus picking up women in the parking lot of the WestEnd)

Six buses rolled off the parking lot on Friday, October 24th filled with over 300 women on their way to Philadelphia to participate in the Million Women March. Amid the waves and cheers of their friends and family they left behind, and followed by several vans and cars, the women were bound for a spiritual journey. Following a prayer by Rev. Charles Williams, Indiana Black Expo, the women boarded the Thompson buses armed with Kroger box lunches, MWM tee-shirts, luggage and a resolve to go to Philadelphia on a mission. The steady rain had not dampened their spirit.

(Photo: Pat VanDoren, Avenell Fields and Cathy Maybry from the WestEnd kept everyone organized on bus #1)

“I’m very excited” said Pat VanDoren, assistant coordinator of the Indianapolis Chapter of the MWM. “It was somewhat strenuous getting everybody organized. We had a few mix-ups ... but we have worked those out and now were moving toward Philly”, she said. VanDoren, Sales and Catering Director of the WestEnd, assisted Dawn Blanchard, coordinator, who drove ahead Tuesday to Philadelphia to do a walk through of the plans and provide direct feedback.

(Photo: Aretha Wright, Rhoda ludy, Betty Jiles and Bettie Woods from BJ's Famous Coney)

On bus #1 the women cheered and watched videos to get into the spirit. “Get On The Bus”, a Spike Lee movie portraying the Million Man March was an appropriate first choice followed by “Rosewood”, a movie depicting a real life account of an affluent black town in Mississippi in 1922 which was burned to the ground by a racist mob. The tone set, the women began to express how they felt about attending the march. “This is going to be history in the making, and I want to be a part of it”, said Patricia Kennedy. “I hope this is going to be a stepping stone to resolve some of our problems, like homelessness, aids victims, or teenage pregnancy” she remarked.

(Rachelle Apollon, Patricia Canady, Marla Byrd, and Cassie, all Indianapolis residents)

That seemed to be a common theme among the women. “Life has presented us as Black Women with several opportunities to be counted, but there are few opportunities to actually count”, said Nicole Willard winner of an essay contest that won her a free trip, sponsored by Black Expo. “We are counted as we file into the welfare offices to collect our checks. We are counted as we fill courtrooms as we fight to hold our babies daddies accountable. We are counted as we bow our heads and accept the role as backbone of the African American family. While all these situations allow us to be counted, none of them acknowledge that we count”, her essay continued. “I feel that by being in that number in the MWM that I will not only be a witness to history in the making, I will make history”.

(Photo: Denise Raphel of the YMCA in downtown Philadelphia)

Arrival in Philadelphia was at 6:30 a.m. in the dark rainy cool early morning at the downtown YMCA, where Ms. VanDoren had made arrangements for the women to disembark for a quick shower and change. “We’re happy we could participate somehow”, said Fran Bell, executive director of the YMCA. The women filled every room in the YMCA, including the men’s locker room with individuals hurriedly preparing for the day ahead. “My men are ready to get in here so they can work out”, said Denise Rapel, membership director of the ‘Y’. Asked about the feelings of the women of Philly “I know just as many women who are participating [in the march] as who are not participating”, she added.

(Photo: Michael Hinnant, Sr and Michael Hinnant Jr., father and son waiting on MWM women to clear out of men's locker room at the YMCA)

As far as the men waiting on the women to clear out of their space, “I can wait whatever time it takes for the ladies to get together.” said Michael Hinnant, Sr. who had come to the ‘Y’ with his son to work out. “I have a 16 year-old daughter who I am going to accompany to the march later today”, he said. “My family is more than 100% supportive of the MWM. The march should be a stimulus for upcoming events in unity”. Three buses that got lost on the way to the ‘Y’ had arrived in just enough time to keep the bathroom and showers, which were meant for only 12, from collapsing under the strain of the huge crowd.

(Photo: Indianapolis Women of all ages and backgrounds, disembarking from buses, getting their signs after arriving at the Veteran's Stadium in Philadelphia, to participate in the historical Million Women March)

The buses then traveled to the Veteran’s Stadium, where all the buses arriving in Philadelphia were instructed to park. All the streets in the downtown area had already been blocked off due to the march.

Armed with large signs with ‘Indianapolis’ slogans, the women converged on the subway at Broad and Pattison Streets. The women chanted and sang songs as they waited their turn to get on the Broad Street Line to go to City Hall. The group became separated in the thousands of other women from all over the country all taking the subway to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Between 6:00a.m. and 2:00 p.m., there were a reported 1.5 million people on the subway, according to the subway authorities.

(Photo: Bettie Woods surrounded by groups of other women from Indianapolis sporting their signs, singing and chanting)

Smaller groups of Indy women disembarked from the subway as it arrived at City Hall and they joined the thousands of people pouring into the street headed toward the platform where the speakers were already in progress. All along the 12 block march to the stage area, the women were witness to history. More Black Women than anybody had ever seen at one time, together in one place.

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