Clinton at UWM: Audience Members Spanned Generations

The people who came to UWM to see Hillary Clinton on Thursday spanned generations. Here are two of those stories:

Waited Two Hours

By Meggie Hall

Amid the screams and the “Hillary” chants, stood an older woman; Hillary Clinton had arrived in Milwaukee.  Lines had stretched out and around past Maryland Avenue, and  one woman in particular had been waiting in line for a solid two hours, Catherine O’Neill.

O’Neill, 70, worked as a teacher and later in life became a youth minister. When asked do you support Clinton, her response was, “I think so. Her women’s rights is a plus, but she’s not pure.”

Her enthusiasm continued when she said, “Republicans use it to get front, I think there’s nothing to it,” regarding the email turpitude. O’Neill went on to say she likes Clinton for her women’s rights issues and economic equality.

O’Neill concluded with, “She did a great job with black lives matter. All for civil rights and whole life. Racial and economic disparity are important to me.”

O’Neill left with a smile on her face, glad she finally got to see the presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in person.

Concerned about Planned Parenthood

By Danielle Miller

In the mass of students flooding to see Hillary Clinton, a student of Marquette Dental College sits patiently with a Women for Hillary sign sitting on her lap. Mariela Gaughan smiles warmly, her hands folded in her lap. Gaughan has been a long-time supporter of Clinton’s.

Her biggest selling point is Planned Parenthood. “I agree with Planned Parenthood,” Gaughan  said, “women’s health is important. Never limit someone’s health.”  She later added, “Everyone is unique,” and said that women’s health should “stay out of politics and be between the person and their physician.”

As an avid supporter, Gaughan was excited with the reaction Clinton received from the students, adding, “There was a lot of energy in the room…she was hitting the right notes [with students].”

Gaughan’s devotion hasn’t been deterred by the email controversy Clinton faces; “The trail will bring to light a lot of details,” she says.

Being a supporter of Clinton’s emanated from Gaughan’s youth. When she was younger, she would watch Clinton’s talks about women’s rights and issues, “It really inspired me to be a female leader,” she said. The inspiration stuck as she now rallies with the presidential hopeful.