The Women’s March on Washington—a massing of people marginalized throughout President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign, is planned for his first day in office.
While organizers are not billing the march as specifically anti-Trump, they are presenting it as a march for fundamental human rights—a nod to Hillary Clinton’s oft-quoted “human rights are women’s rights, and women’s rights are human rights” line from a 1995 speech in Beijing. These rights include reproductive health, childcare, and jobs. Also, the right to live free of sexual harassment and gender, race, and sexualitybased discrimination.
The march is currently expected to draw more than 200,000 participants. Planned Parenthood recently committed as a partner, along with more than 70 other groups, including the Center for Reproductive Rights, Amnesty International, and the NAACP.
Tamika D. Mallory, one of the four national co-chairs, had this to say: “I’m involved because this March isn’t just about Trump. We know these incidents (racist attacks/attacks on women) were happening before he was elected. This March is about what he represents, as a powerful rallying figurehead to misogyny and a silent support of white supremacists, sexists, and those who feel entitled to try and legally tell me what to do with my body. It’s about the Supreme Court, Congress, local governors, and the district attorneys who need to prosecute officers for killing our brothers and sisters. For assaulting women. For the injustices against us as a people.”
Locally, Kansans can march in solidarity with the national march by participating in a march and rally at the Capitol Building in Topeka.
Members of the general public of all genders and ages are invited to gather at the south-steps plaza of the State Capitol Building at 1:00 PM on January 21. Guest speakers and presenters will include Kansas legislators, advocates, and musicians from across the state. Immediately following the main event, attendees are invited to join organizers for a brief advocacy training and networking opportunity in the Historic Fire Station No. 2 located at 719 SW Van Buren. Then at 4:00 pm, Chicken Soup for the Feminist’s Soul – a dinner and networking event, will be held at the Unitarian Universal Fellowship of Topeka, 4775 SW 21st Street. If you wish to attend, please RSVP at: https://www.facebook.com/ events/208597989546434/
Other national anti-Trump actions: Lights out at 8:00 P.M.
Another national action has been organize via Facebook to have people turn off their lights from 8:00 – 8:48 P.M. local time to express your concerns about President Trump. The organizers say the 48 minutes of darkness can brightly represent our resolve to instill respect for knowledge, justice, generosity, mercy, integrity and humility, especially in the next 48 months. Together, let us kindle the fires of a new enlightenment! The Facebook event is located at: https:// http://www.facebook.com/events/ 1731739590487507/
Nine Ways to Oppose Donald Trump
Earlier in December John Cassidy published in The New Yorker a list of ways people could resist the Trump presidency. They provide hope and a road map to the resistance we must all take up. You can find the article at: http://www.newyorker.com/news/ john-cassidy/nine-ways-to-opposedonald- trump
Originally published in the MAPJ NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2017 p. 2.
Manhattan Alliance for Peace & Justice 