Decorah Women's March draws a crowd of around 750 people

On the march

The second annual Decorah Women's March Saturday afternoon drew almost as large a crowd as the original march one year ago.

After an opening ceremony at Mary Christopher Park around 1:30 Saturday afternoon, participants marched through downtown Decorah to the Winneshiek County Courthouse, where there several speeches.

One of the organizers of this year's march, Cerissa Snethen, a mother, writer and activist living in Decorah, told marchers to "reject fear and hate and sexism and homophobia and xenophobia and racism."  She urged the crowd "to face the world and tell the truth."

Other speakers were Luther College religion professor Guy Nave, Luther College sophomore Asha Aden, Luther biology major Tiwonge Chirwa, Iowa House of Representatives candidate Lori Egan; and Decorah student Pranav Caton.

The theme of this year's march was an effort to get people to get out and vote.  Voter registration forms and information were available at the march.

Saturday's crowd was an estimated 750 people.  That's below last year's estimated crowd of 900 people, but still a large turnout.

One of the organizers, Cerrisa Snethen, spoke to the crowd before the march began

At the Courthouse