'United we march:' Sleet, snow don't stop Carbondale Women's March

More than 100 people gathered at the Carbondale Civic Center Saturday for the third-annual Women's March, held in solidarity with marchers around the nation and the world. Participants made signs, learned chants and enjoyed the "community engagement fair" that started more than two hours before the march was to begin.

Like-minded people shared their enthusiasm for local, national and universal causes as the buzz in the large civic center ballroom increased. Representatives passed out information about the Women's Center, the Peace Coalition, the Pagan Alliance, the Center for Empowerment and Justice, the Race Unity Group, the Carbondale Interfaith Council and the Immigrant Rights Project, just to name a few of the organizations represented.

At about 1 p.m. organizers called the crowd to order and passed out Rising Star Youth Civic Awards, new to this year's event, to students whose social and community activism were celebrated by their sponsors, members of the committee who chose them and the crowd who cheered as each one stepped to the microphone.

"I am tired of waiting for the change I want to see in the world," said Benton Goff of Christopher, one of the award winners. He joined Tre Graham of Marion, Oneida Vargas of Carbondale, Nigel Williams of Cairo and Autumn McMahan of Wolf Lake, who couldn't attend, but was represented by her sponsor.

"I hope that my advocacy leads people to do the same," said Graham.

"My duty is to serve and lead my community without hesitation," said Williams.

The march and the awards were presented by the Women United Network. Liz Hunter and Annette Jaynes, organizers of the event, described the march as a "non-violent, family-friendly action to bring the community together for equal rights, respect and justice for all."

"Our work is not done," Hunter told the crowd. "We have to stand up for our rights and unite in our common goals.

She thanked "all of the people and volunteers who braved the weather" before releasing the group who was anxious to march despite disintegrating conditions.

Nevermind that the march had been shortened by more than half in anticipation of the inclement weather and then canceled altogether when parade marshals said that high winds, sleet and snow meant conditions were unsafe.

Undaunted and undeterred, more than 50 of the most intrepid wrapped themselves in coats and scarves and hoisted their signs. Arms linked to keep from slipping on the ice and pushing against a strong headwind, they marched together around the block.