I am marching for the strong women who have stood their ground quietly but now need to have a voice. I am marching for my father, an Italian immigrant who has lived and worked hard in this country twice as long as his native Italy, but was unable to have a voice in this election. I am marching for those who are disabled or debilitated by chronic illness like myself, who are prevented from achieving their full potential by the restrictions put on us by the government and prejudices of this country. I am marching for my strong female friends and sisters who are doctors and lawyers who went into those careers to help others, and fear that the positions of this new administration will endanger healthcare, education, and the civil rights of Americans. I am marching for the environment. I am marching for the children I advocate for in foster care so that they are given the opportunities they were denied by the parents who neglected them. I am marching for the many victims of sexual harassment and violence so that they are given the justice they deserve. I am marching for the reproductive rights of women, as we have the right to decide what to do with our bodies as all patients have the rights to voice their own medical decisions. And, mostly, I am marching for the rights of all, we the people, for equal rights, regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or beliefs as our founding fathers had intended.

I am a 40 year old daughter of an Italian immigrant. My father is the only member of his family to leave Italy. My mother’s grandparents all immigrated from Italy also. I was born in Miami and have lived in South Jersey since I was 5 years old. I am a graduate of Duke University with a Masters in Medical Science from Drexel University and an MD from New Jersey Medical School in Newark, NJ. I am not practicing due to debilitating migraines, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome. I also had a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery a year ago for breast cancer. I am not able to go to D.C. today because I need to have a revision in a month and I’ve been having panic attacks in crowds since my surgery.