The Women's March was a party with a purpose

What I witnessed was a group of passionate attendees with many different reasons for being there: to build camaraderie, to express anger, to take action and to mend broken fences. All of these objectives were loosely connected by the theme of equality.

The real theme, however, became clear early in the day when the loudspeaker played Aretha Franklin singing "Respect." The crowd erupted into dance and song. It appeared to be the day's anthem. All there were looking for respect for women.

The party was also a friendly one. When I had to squeeze through a crowded area (which I had to do numerous times), I was greeted with, "Oh, sorry!" It was a crowd of mostly women, after all.

However, the good cheer was peppered with elements of fury: Some signs were so vulgar I was concerned for the few children I saw in attendance. There was also a tone of 'Be angry! No more playing nice! Don't wait for what we want!'"

There were signs that spoke to the controversy that has followed this march in recent months, addressing the need to work together as a broad coalition of different races, religions, sexual preferences and gender identities. I witnessed care, concern and a feeling of an urgent need to love one another. With passion, seriousness and humor, the struggles of this movement were faced head on.

I saw fewer pink hats, but there were many more signs than previous years (and they seemed less funny) -- as if people had a need to be heard as well as seen. Simply attending the march was not enough.

After spending the day drawing people, signs and speakers, I felt as if I were watching something bigger than just one gathering in Washington, one of many marches staged around the world.

It's clear that the Women's March is both a global movement and a local movement. In each city around the world, activists are working within their own communities to bring about equality and respect for women.