This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

As one of many Mormon women who participated in the Women's March, I am frustrated to see how this peaceful and inspiring event has been mischaracterized by prominent Mormon women, such as Rep. Mia Love and former Young Women General President Elaine S. Dalton.

Rep. Love, I am sorry you were offended because marchers quoted President Donald Trump, using terms like "pussy" and "nasty woman." I was offended that American voters elected the man who originally said these things. I hope you will use your position as the only woman in Utah's congressional delegation to fight perpetrators of sexism and rape culture, instead of the women who protest it.

Sister Dalton, I assure you that we marchers were "calling to the world for a return to virtue," by publicly rebuking the hostility toward women, people of color and other marginalized groups that fueled the Trump campaign. I do not believe that complacency is a virtuous response to bigotry, nor that apathy is "lady-like" — at least, not among the principled ladies I know. We believe in standing — or marching — as "witnesses of God at all times and in all things and in all places."

April Young Bennett

South Jordan