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Peaceful march along Lewes Beach takes stand for women’s rights

Hundreds gather in local sister march
Maddy Lauria
January 22, 2017
Joining march organizer Nancy Powell are (l-r) Cape Region residents Linda Clarke, Chris Powers, Alvin Ross, Nancy Powell, Teresa Palese and Suzanne Schwartz. MADDY LAURIA PHOTO
The King family (l-r) Christine, Chelsea, 9-year-old Simone Spoor, 11-year-old Kiran Spoor, and Tom enjoyed a Friday night of games and poster making before the march at Lewes Beach. MADDY LAURIA PHOTO
And the marchers are off. MADDY LAURIA PHOTO
Seaford resident Caroline Spicer, 9, joined the march in Lewes Jan. 21 to show her support for women's rights. MADDY LAURIA PHOTO
Getting ready to walk down the beach are (l-r) Melinda Hudson of Millsboro, Marsha Davis of Lewes, Marilyn Hewitt of Lewes, Yona Zucker of Rehoboth Beach, Leslie Ledogar of Lewes and Michele Warch of Georgetown. MADDY LAURIA PHOTO
Pausing from the march for a photo are (l-r) Yona Zuker, Sue Goudy, 7-year-old Justina Goudy, Marta Ortiz, Sandy Oropel and Renata Price. MADDY LAURIA PHOTO
Beebe Frazer of Lewes waves her flag along the edge of Lewes Beach. MADDY LAURIA PHOTO
Despite her cane, Carole Ann Basso of Lewes is joining the sister march in Lewes. MADDY LAURIA PHOTO
Rehoboth Beach resident Chris Lehman carries young Abe on his shoulders during the march. MADDY LAURIA PHOTO
Well over 200 people joined forces the morning of Jan. 21 to peacefully march along Lewes beach. MADDY LAURIA PHOTO
Enjoying the stroll are (l-r) Robin Lank, Jean Pikus and Diane Lank. MADDY LAURIA PHOTO
Showing support for each other – and others peacefully protesting around the world – are (l-r) Mary Lenney of Lewes, Maureen Ewadinger of Milford, Ruth Lamothe of Millsboro, Martrise Jones of Lewes and Barbara Vaughan of Lewes. MADDY LAURIA PHOTO
Cape Region residents (l-r) Mary Jo Johnson, Mary Ellen Monos, Robin Bedlington and Jean Athan enjoyed the opportunity to march for women's rights on a cool January morning in Lewes. MADDY LAURIA PHOTO
Beth Enos, far right, came prepared with a sign. Joining her for the peaceful march in Lewes are (l-r) Debbie Burns, Marta Ortiz, Linda Rathmanner and Lisa Nothstein. MADDY LAURIA PHOTO
Some people made protest posters for the peaceful march in Lewes Jan. 21. BROOK HEDGE PHOTO
Cape Region residents united in solidarity for a sister march on Lewes Beach Jan. 21. BROOK HEDGE PHOTO
Five charter buses left the Lowes parking lot in Lewes early Jan. 21 to head to the Women’s March on Washington. Shown are in back (l-r) Marianthi Bousses and Kaliopi Bousses. In front are Jennifer Biddle and Kristin Yoshimura. PHOTO COURTESY OF JENNIFER BIDDLE
Many protesters also headed to Washington, D.C., Jan. 21 for the Women’s March on Washington. PHOTO COURTESY OF NATHALIE WILLARD
Cape Region residents (l-r) Mary Ann Scott, Carol Boyd and Susan Lowe are joined by New Mexico resident Lynn Hopkins, who came from Santa Fe to participate in the Women’s March on Washington Jan. 21. SUBMITTED PHOTO
Lewes residents (l-r) Kathy Brady, Dianne Jacobini, Caryl Williams and Gail Smith brought along a Cape Gazette to the Women’s March on Washington Jan. 21. SUBMITTED PHOTO
Cape Region residents (l-r) Lilly Tanverdi (in back), Polly Lehtonen, Donna L. West, Deb Dobransky and Gene Tadlock boarded one of seven buses in southern Delaware that headed to the Women’s March on Washington. SUBMITTED PHOTO
A Cape Region resident shared this photo of protesters at the march in Washington, D.C. SUBMITTED PHOTO
Some participants took their protest to full costumes. MJ OSTINATO PHOTO
There were plenty of protest posters at the Women’s March on Washington. MJ OSTINATO PHOTO
Milton resident MJ Ostinato said these guardsmen, at the Washington, D.C., sat on top of their truck and took pictures of the crowd for anyone who handed up their cellphones. “Maybe the most congenial crowd of people I've ever scene. Everyone was patient, kind, polite, not even a cross word,” Ostinato said. MJ OSTINATO PHOTO
Milton resident MJ Ostinato said this photo was one of her favorites from the march in Washington, D.C. MJ OSTINATO PHOTO
Taking a selfie at the Washington, D.C., march are (l-r) Lisa Conner, Brenda Ross and Deb Davies. SUBMITTED PHOTO
About 30 people gathered for a march in solidarity on the island of Bonaire in the Dutch Caribbean. LAURA DESALVO PHOTO
Local photographer JR Futcher, right, joins friends (l-r) Tonilee Lucchino, Laura Wynosky Adams and Cheryl Goldberg in front of the Washington Monument during the march. JR FUTCHER PHOTO
Local photographer JR Futcher said of the hundreds of photos she took while at the march in Washington, D.C., this one truly “captured the spirit for me and many others personally and culturally.” JR FUTCHER PHOTO
Participants were signing the Constitution with any comments or declarations on a 200-foot-long canvas laid out at the foot of the Washington Monument at the Women’s March on Washington. JR FUTCHER PHOTO
Many marchers enthusiastically showed pink pride in many clever fashions, including crochet. JR FUTCHER PHOTO

What started as a peaceful women’s rights walk among a few friends quickly turned in to a gathering of more than 250 people along Lewes Beach Jan. 21.

Nancy Powell said initially 12-15 friends had planned to walk in Cape Henlopen State Park the same day the national Women’s March on Washington took to the streets. But those friends told others, who shared the idea for a local march with more friends and neighbors, until the gathering grew to dozens of Cape Region residents and families interested in peacefully protesting.

“I think it was important to show some solidarity with the people in Washington,” Powell said as she stood along the shoreline of the Delaware Bay. 

For Rehoboth Beach resident Sandy Oropel, the march was a chance to stand her ground.

“We couldn’t go to the march in D.C. and it was important to me to stand in solidarity with women around the world on issues that are important to women and the men who support us,” she said.

When asked her biggest concerns regarding the new administration, she said, “Where do I begin?”

Powell said she hoped the march allowed time for people to think about their concerns, and speak about those issues with others.

“It’s nice to see everybody having a good time and talking,” she said. “It really is a chance to walk this beautiful beach and think about what we might do to ensure America stays strong.”

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