Delmarva residents prep for Women's March on Washington

The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship at Salisbury's sanctuary was abuzz with excitement and activity during the afternoon of Saturday, Jan. 14. A newly formed group called Together We Will Delmarva had gathered to make preparations for a bus trip to the Women's March on Washington. After some additional information about the trip and logistics regarding the chartered bus were disseminated, the group of mostly women were eager to get busy making signs to carry during the march.

Michele Schlehofer Copper, the 40-year-old chairman of Salisbury University's psychology department, organized the group and has taken charge of securing the bus and making sure all the seats were filled and paid for.

Copper said she views the Women's March as a historic event.

"Although the idea may have arisen from the 2016 election, it’s going to be much larger and broader," she recently explained. "The mission of the march from the website is inclusive. With enough division in our country -- culminating in this election -- we need to move beyond that to inclusion. That message of inclusion and unity resonated with me."

Copper said she really feels it’s time for people of her generation to step up.

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"We’ve assumed that we’ve always had rights, assumed those battles were won," she said. "It’s long overdue that people of my age and younger contribute, do their part. I'm really excited, I think this is an opportunity to participate in history. You can actively participate and shape the future or let others do it for you. I’d rather be helping to shape it. I see the march as a jumping off point."

Attending the gathering was P.J. Olson, 64,a  retired English teacher from Delmar.

"My sister and I signed up to go on the bus, but because of logistics, we are not physically able to do the Washington, D.C., march. So we donated our seats to younger people," said Olson. "We are planning to attend the march in Worcester County instead."

That march will be held at the same time on Ocean City's Boardwalk.

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"I'm very concerned about women’s health care. I've always been an advocate of Planned Parenthood," Olson said. "As a young woman it was my only source for health care."

Olson is also busy knitting and crocheting pink “pussy hats” -- homemade cat ear hats that are being promoted to display unity during the march. She was giving the hats away during the Saturday gathering.

"I think it’s great idea to show that women are unified, and this will be a unifying picture to show we're together for many different reasons, but still united," Olson said.

A march for those unable to attend the D.C. event will be held in tandem in Ocean City, beginning at 11 a.m. on the Boardwalk at the inlet and marching to the plaza at Division Street.

Susan Parker

slparker@gannett.com

@shorevoices