The group joined demonstrators in a peaceful rally which sought to address a wide range of issues. The march expanded its focus beyond topics traditionally emphasized in earlier Women’s Marches, spotlighting women’s reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ rights, immigration reform, climate change and the protection of democracy.

The trip was organized by Paige Bishop, a Warren County resident. Bishop arranged for the group to board a chartered bus in the early morning of Jan. 18. At 3 a.m., the bus departed from the Warren Commons parking lot, with additional stops in Clearfield and Bedford counties to pick up 10 more participants.

“I decided to organize this trip to D.C. for the People’s March on January 18, 2025, for many reasons. The rights of my loved ones, myself, and many other Americans are at risk for the next 4 years. 12 states have completely banned abortions, and many women have died due to refusal of medical care because of the bans,” said Bishop. “Someone you love is queer, someone you love has had an abortion, and the POC in your community hear the narratives about them that you support. Be careful who you hate; it might be someone you love.”

Despite the early start and long day, the Warren County contingent expressed pride in being part of a larger movement that aims to enact positive change on both a local and national level.

For Sarah Parmeter, the trip was a chance to voice her concerns about the state of democracy in the country.

“Participating in events like the People’s March is incredibly rewarding,” Parmeter said. “Protesting and expressing what parts of our democracy we feel need improvement is a fundamental right, and our First Amendment right is key to our democratic process. I encourage everyone to participate in peaceful demonstrations about issues they care about.”

This year’s march was a lower-key affair than the 2017 People’s March, which brought more than 500,000 marchers to Washington with millions more demonstrating in cities throughout the country, marking one of the largest single-day demonstrations in U.S. history. According to the Associated Press, in the years after 2017, the Women’s March fractured internally as the group faced allegations of racism and antisemitism. It also came under scrutiny for being more focused on the voices of straight white women over women of color and the LGBTQ+ community, a rift that caused sponsors to pull support and leadership to shift. The Jan. 18 march was a quieter moment of introspection and building support for communities that will be most affected by President Donald Trump’s policies, according to Associated Press reports.

“Thousands of people filled the streets with love, acceptance, inspiration, and community. Thank you to everyone who attended and donated to this bus trip. The world needs more love and unity, and you all radiated that,” Bishop said.