NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JEWISH WOMEN BERGEN COUNTY SECTION WOMEN JOIN WOMEN’S MARCH ON WASHINGTON

In the pre-dawn hour of 4:45 a.m. on Saturday, January 21, five somber yet determined National Council of Jewish Women Bergen County Section members boarded one of the two buses carrying 110 New Jersey women (and a smattering of men) leaving the Central Unitarian Church in Paramus.  In all, an estimated 300 New Jersey buses, carrying at least 13,500 New Jersey people who had registered with organizers, were leaving simultaneously from various other bus launch locations in New Jersey.  BCS marchers included Jane Abraham, Carole Benson, Nancy Dweck and her daughter Amy, and Joan Schnuer.

Carole Benson, NCJW BCS Past President recalls:  “Hurtling down the NJ Turnpike bumper to bumper with hundreds of other buses converging on Washington, we arrived at 10:00 a.m. at the huge RFK Stadium parking lot in DC. The DC Metro System was backed up with hour-long waits, so we walked on East Capitol Street with thousands of others for the two and a half miles to the Capitol, a journey that was uplifting and inspiring. Homeowners came out with their children and dogs to line the street to offer us goodies and accolades.”

Jane Abraham, NCJW BCS Advocacy VP said: “The unprecedentedly huge turnout made the original march route alongside the National Mall impassable so we five rallied together with thousands of positive, peace-loving women, men and kids displaying innovative banners and signs.  With a feeling that history was being made, we stood by the Reflecting Pool by the Capitol steps, with the backdrop of the stand on which the Presidential Inauguration had taken place a mere 24 hours earlier. The atmosphere was upbeat throughout the day, but we sensed that the struggle was just starting. We felt the people power in the huge number of humanity surrounding us and were motivated and proud to be marching together.”

Joan Schnuer, an active NCJW BCS member remembers: “As the day drew to a close, we enjoyed a brief respite with our friends and colleagues from DC and around the USA at NCJW’s mid-town Washington office.  Nancy Kaufman, NCJW CEO, greeted us warmly with “You New Jersey women are amazing.”  We learned that countless other NCJW members had travelled to DC for the march.

The bus arrived back in Paramus around 11:00 p.m., its passengers tired but elated.  NCJW BCS members, unable to get to Washington, joined sister marches in many other USA locations, including NYC and NJ State Capitol in Trenton.

Current news is that similar marches and rallies around the world support our confidence that this event has already had enormous global impact and will inspire others to take action, rally, march and speak out to lawmakers on the issues we espouse so passionately for the safety and well-being of all our peoples.

Click each photo to enlarge.

Marching in Washington L-R: Joan Schnuer; Carole Benson; Jane Abraham

Marching in Washington L-R:
Carole Benson; Jane Abraham; Joan Schnuer; Amy Dweck; Nancy Dweck

At NCJW Washington office L-R: Beatrice Kahn, NCJW Incoming President; Jody Rabhan, ‎NCJW Director of Washington Operations; Lindsay Morris, NCJW Manager of Grassroots Advocacy; Carole Benson; Joan Schnuer; Jane Abraham; Debbie Hoffman, NCJW President

At NCJW Washington office L-R: Jane Abraham; Beatrice Kahn, NCJW Incoming President; Carole Benson; Nancy Kaufman, NCJW CEO; Joan Schnuer

BCS members marching in New York L-R: Shelly Winner; Barbara Berger-Brill

BCS Members Marching in Trenton L-R: Elaine Meyerson; Bari-Lynne Schwartz

BCS members marching in New York Joanna Falk and grandmother Ina Miller-Silverstein

BCS member marching in New York Irma Praise Ball

BCS members marching in Trenton Roz Altman and Gloria Lieberstein

BCS member marching in Washington NJ Assemblywoman Valerie Huttle and husband Mayor of Englewood Frank Huttle

BCS member marching in Washington Charlotte Bennett Schoen with grandchildren Max and Capri Gigante