Can’t attend the Women’s March on Washington? Here are 4 ways you can still be heard

Well, this isn’t shocking: The Women’s March on Washington might turn out to be the biggest protest on record. Occurring just one day after current president-elect Donald J. Trump is sworn into office, January 21 is set to start Trump’s presidency with a splash. Over 100,000 official participants are said to have registered for the walk, with many more RSVPing on Facebook to help spread the word and raise further awareness. A trip out to Washington D.C. may not be possible for all of us, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t help further the goals of the Women’s March on Washington. Here are some ways you can get involved and show your support, even if you can’t be there in person.

1 Join a local Women’s March

Don't let red v blue map fool you. There's a @womensmarch sister march in all 50 states. Including each "red" one.✊🏼 https://t.co/39veWgrUSe

— Sarah Smarsh (@Sarah_Smarsh) January 15, 2017

The large Women’s March on Washington has spurred the creation of many smaller women’s marches in order to create awareness across the country and show solidarity with one another. These smaller gatherings have been aptly named Sister Marches, and there are currently 370 in total. As of publication, that brings the number of formal registrants across the country to nearly 700,000! That’s quite a force to be reckoned with.

2 Get your male friends and family members involved

My pick of the week on how to resist. Plan to go to Women's March on Washington. Men too, come and support equality. https://t.co/wDIFEmLMUY

— Lisa Bloom (@LisaBloom) November 19, 2016

Who is going to DC for Women's March on Washington? Men welcome. https://t.co/b1VupWRRda

— Purple Rain (@WorkIntegrity) December 29, 2016

Because a Women’s March doesn’t mean that only women can go, and women’s rights affect us all.

3 Donate time and money to organizations aligned with women’s rights

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Planned Parenthood is a great place to start, since the effort to defund them has already begun. You can also buy official merchandise from the Women’s March on Washington; all proceeds go towards getting as many protesters to the March as possible. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) also has more information on ways to get involved and great organizations to which you can donate.

4 Call your elected officials

Call your state elected officials! Apparently a number of them are starting to see the light about repealing ACA/Obamacare. https://t.co/kVDwA7mFSD

— dana🦄💗🌻☮️ (@danayoung) January 15, 2017

This is how you get your elected officials to listen. Show up to every district event, visit them in DC, call them https://t.co/Clkj1fnhHz

— EG Hope (@EG4Hope) January 15, 2017

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And then have your friends call. And your relatives call. And your coworkers call. We cannot emphasize this enough. The biggest way to make an impact and have your voice heard isn’t tweeting or making Facebook statuses — it is most effective to pick up the phone and call. Find your federal, state, and local government officials and then call their office numbers to air your grievances. It is quick, easy, and most importantly effective. Let’s not forget the best way to enact change in our government: speaking up and taking action.