Milford's bus to Women's March is getting national attention

By Anya Tikka
MILFORD — The bus headed from Milford to the Women's March in Washington, D.C., is attracting national attention, says Ed Gragert, an organizer from The Delaware Valley Democratic Club.
“I‘m extremely excited and motivated by the level of interest," he said. "Our bus is attracting national attention. It’s been identified as of national interest. A national-level media organization is going to follow the bus throughout the event, also filming and live-streaming on the bus, on the march, throughout. We’re the only one.”
The Women’s March will be held in the nation's capital on Saturday, Jan. 21, the day after the Presidential Inauguration. More than 200,000 people have said they will attend, according to the march's Facebook page. "Sister marches" are also being held in Milford, on Jan. 20, and Port Jervis, on Jan. 21 (see related story: http://bit.ly/2iJJod7), and in all 50 states.
Although called the Women’s March, Gragert said, it’s for everyone, although 85 to 90 percent of those already registered are women.
“We are going to give a voice to people on the local level," Gragert said. "We’re going to be very vigilant about what’s going on in the Congress, and the White House, but also on county level we’ll be very active in local elections as well as act as House and Senate watchdog.”
The bus has its roots in the Presidential campaign. Since the election result was not what local volunteers supporting the Democratic side had expected, they channeled their energy into doing something about the outcome.
Democratic Club members held meetings wondering, “What can we do?” Gragert said.
“Out of that came the concept of organizing locally as much as possible, and to have activities on ongoing bases to deal with Mr. Trump’s agenda which to our mind is contrary to this country’s interest," he said.
Everyone's welcome to join the campaign, and get involved in ongoing activities, whether from Pike County or beyond. The Democratic Club already has 400 people on its mailing list.
An 'overwhelming' response"The response was overwhelming," he said after the club announced its plan to join the march. "We outsold one bus, and a lot of people were still interested in going so we are in the process of renting a second bus.”
Many are bringing their mothers, daughters, sisters, and grandmothers. It’s intergenerational, Gragert said.
“It’s an amazing and inclusive cross-section of our community by age, and all different kinds of backgrounds," he said.
The bus will leave at 4:30 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 21, and returning late at night, for $70 per seat.
Gragert thinks the march will be bigger than the inauguration itself, because all 3,000 bus parking spots were gone by Jan. 10. Each bus carries 30 people, and will be coming from all over the country. Many others will find their own way to the event.
The march starts at intersection of Independence Avenue and Third Street SW, near the U.S. Capitol NS and continues down to in front of the White House.
Gragert is originally from Washington state, and has a background in international education, with a PhD in Asian history. He worked in university-level education, and in international nonprofit organizations for the last 40 years.
He’s visited 80 countries, but chose to put down his roots in Milford Township.
"If our members of Congress support the Trump agenda, they will hear from us," he said. "We are organized using social media, everything.”
For more information email dvdccomms@gmail.com or visit facebook.com/DelValDemClub.
Editor's note: Will you be attending the Inauguration on Jan. 20? We'd love to hear from you. Email editor.pcc@strausnews.com.