PHOTOS: Statehouse women’s rally draws memories of 2017 – VTDigger

MONTPELIER — There were no traffic jams this time around, and just a smattering of pink pussy hats in the crowd. All the same, the Vermont Women’s Rally that drew hundreds of people to the Statehouse lawn on Saturday morning shared the same themes and motivations as the 2017 event that drew a record crowd  — estimated between 15,000 and 20,000 — to the same venue.

“We’re not going back” was the oft-repeated line in both speeches and handmade signs. But it was not lost on the crowd that in the nearly eight years since that previous rally, the movement had faced a major setback with the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade.

The 90-minute event was billed as one to demonstrate the power of women to fight discrimination and support women’s rights, but the main catalyst for the gathering, as in 2017, was unquestionably former President Donald Trump — although his name was rarely invoked.

With the clock ticking down on Tuesday’s election, the rally drew generations of Vermonters, ranging from toddlers to elder women’s rights activists. Among them was 91-year-old Madeleine Kunin, who kicked off the speeches nearly 40 years to the day after she was elected to be Vermont’s first — and only — female governor.

“It’s women who are going to decide the outcome of this election,” Kunin said to loud applause, “and we’re going to be out in force all over the country.” As with other speakers, Kunin characterized it as “the most important election” in a lifetime.

Musicians, a poet and a college student also took turns at the podium, along with U.S. Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., a representative for U.S. Rep. Becca Balint, D-Vt and former state Rep. Kiah Morris. But it was the surprise late arrival of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt, that brought the loudest cheering, again reminiscent of the 2017 rally (including the surprise late arrival). Sanders did not hesitate to call out Trump by name, repeatedly, as he drew from the stump speech he has delivered around the country in recent weeks on behalf of Vice President Kamala Harris to close out the rally’s speeches.

Saturday’s event was scheduled to coincide with the national Women’s March in Washington, D.C.  and other state women’s rallies across the country.