I’m thrilled to be able to “march” in this way, as my disability makes it quite difficult for me to participate in events of this type. I’m actually continuing to heal after a series of major orthopedic surgeries, the most recent of which took place in 2014, so this event is a wonderful morale booster for me. I have several compelling reasons to march: in defiance of my disability; in opposition to & protest against the new administration in Washington, D.C., & all it stands for; in continuing support of Hillary Clinton, whom I proudly campaigned for, voted for & now grieve for, in the wake of a stolen election; in solidarity with other women who feel as I do; in support of all women & men who feel at risk under the new administration, fearing discrimination, hate crimes & misuse of power; in memory of my late, beloved mother, who would have been totally caught up in the election & on fire to demonstrate, just as women took to the streets to demonstrate in order to obtain the right to vote. I also march in tribute to my past: as a child of the ’50s & ’60s, I was reared in turbulent times & protest marches, etc., were common events. It is thus a way of returning to the crucible of my girlhood.

Building my new career as a Legal Assistant is a challenge & a work of love. The small criminal-law practice where I work allows great variety & flexibility. I’m also able to productively utilize the lengthy period of time I was incarcerated, providing my boss with in-house feedback about the prison system, its effect on people, etc. The college work I did “inside” fostered my ability to write, leading to several interesting opportunities to publish (book chapters, newspaper work) & contribute work to outside events, such as the 1995 World Conference on Women, in China. I have a book offer from a noted academic publishing house & am currently assessing the feasibility of producing the work.

Please find attached a .jpg image of me, taken not long after I left prison in 2011. (I’ll tell on myself here: I was just shy of my 61st birthday when that photo was taken by a friend when we stopped for coffee. That is what freedom looks like, dears!)

Again, my thanks for making this unique & thrilling opportunity a reality for those of use who cannot take our personal agendas to the streets, along with many thousands of others. What a blessing this is!

In solidarity & friendship,

Marcia Bunney