A marcher’s rationale, issues that motivated her.

I believe that once they’re born, children should be protected, cared for and educated. They and their families should have love, food, shelter, and health care. The foster care/adoption system should function for the best interest of the children, not the bureaucracy. Children with special needs should be acknowledged and accommodated. Bullying must be addressed and ended.

I believe that one way children can have better lives is for their mothers to have better lives—to have decent wages for work done; to have work schedules that permit them to plan for doctor’s appointments, teacher conferences and other requirements of daily life most of us in good jobs take for granted; and to never have to choose among safety, transportation, and good schools when looking for low-cost housing.

I believe the country needs to do something about the rampant gun violence that takes too many young lives by homicide, suicide or accidents.

I believe elderly people, like children, should be respected, protected and cared for.

I believe that we owe it to future generations to preserve the earth.

I believe all Americans, regardless of religion, race, gender identification, or sexual orientation, deserve the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and all that means.

I believe we have a moral obligation to live up to the invitation on the Statue of Liberty to be a refuge for the world's oppressed.

I believe in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: that freedom of speech, the press, assembly, petition and religion are bulwarks of our national identity.

I believe in the Bible — what does God require of thee? To do justice, act with compassion, and walk humbly; when we have done something for the least of God’s children, we have done it for Christ himself; we are commanded to love our neighbors.

I believe that facts matter. And words matter.

That is why I marched. And I was inspired to be with so many others with similar beliefs.

Gayle White was a longtime religion writer and reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. She originally wrote this piece as a Facebook posting.