Jan 16, 2017
Everything you need to know about the Women’s March on January 21, 2017
We compiled all the info you need to take part in the Women’s March, wherever you are in the world. Words by Clare Everson.
Martin Luther King Jr. “We cannot walk alone. And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back.”
This is the quote cited in the policy platform written by the Women’s March on Washington, outlining the vision and purpose of the upcoming march this Saturday. It looks to be the biggest mass rally in response to a presidential inauguration ever recorded in America.
What began as a small mutual idea between friends on social media has gathered a huge amount of support from people around the world. Hundreds of thousands of people across the globe are expected to demonstrate against gender inequality as President-elect Donald Trump takes the oath of office next week. One of the largest demonstrations is expected to be the Women’s March on Washington, which will take place the day after the inauguration: Saturday, January 21st beginning at 10:00 a.m. It will start on the Independence Avenue and Third Street SW.
However, the march is not a demonstration with the sole objective of generally opposing the presidency of Donald Trump, nor is it identifying as a protest. Rather it embodies the affirmation that “women’s rights are human rights” and strives for political progress for the human rights, equality, safety and health of people of all genders, races and sexualities. The motivations for the march outlined in the policy platform, ‘Guiding Vision and Definition of Principles’, were prepared by a diverse group of individuals from a range of advocacy groups, including: the National Organization for Women, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the Center for American Progress and the National Domestic Workers Alliance. The group’s ambitions extend to: passing the Equal Rights Amendment, protecting the rights of immigrants of all races, reproductive freedom (in light of threats to cut funding to Planned Parenthood) and also protection of the environment.
According to the group’s website and Facebook pages, 200,000 people plan to attend the Washington march and nearly 600,000 people to take part in 281 international sister marches.
A message on the Women’s March on London Facebook page reads: “We call on people of all genders to march in London as part of an international day of action in solidarity.
“We will march, wherever we march, for the protection of our fundamental rights and for the safeguarding of freedoms threatened by recent political events.
“We unite and stand together for the dignity and equality of all peoples, for the safety and health of our planet and for the strength of our vibrant and diverse communities.
“We will come together in the spirit of democracy, honouring the champions of human rights who have gone before us.
“The politics of fear and division have no place in 2017.”
Not only open to women, the march welcomes anyone who supports women’s rights, as stated on the group’s website: “[T]he Women’s March on Washington (WMW) is for any person, regardless of gender or gender identity, who believes women’s rights are human rights”.
Several celebrities who were vocal in their support for Hillary Clinton during the 2016 presidential election have voiced their intention to attend the march. Katy Perry, who performed for Hilary Clinton during a campaign rally last year, Scarlett Johansson, Cher and Amy Schumer all plan to join the demonstration.
Many organisations have signed on to be partners of the Women’s March on Washington, including: Planned Parenthood, Amnesty International and Naral Pro-Choice America (a group that advocates against abortion restrictions), and LGBT group GLAAD. These partners and co-sponsors are sending a clear message as stated by Ilyse Hogue, the president of Naral Pro-Choice America: “The grassroots activism fueling the march is extraordinary and sends a clear message to the Trump administration: We will not stand down in the face of attacks on our fundamental rights”.
The group is currently trying to raise $2 million for the event, to cover the expenses of parking and logistics related to the march. As of Sunday morning, the Crowd Rise page had raised over $1.2m, mainly constituting small individual donations.
Sarah-Wynne, a ssso member from Washington DC, is organising a group “DC Techno for Women’s March” who will be marching together under a “TechnoFeminism” banner along with portable speakers and has opened the invitation to anyone who would like to join. She has said: “Discwoman are playing a local event that night, and hopefully, travel plans permitting, will be marching with us! Most likely we are meeting at a coffee shop in Eastern Market near the March’s starting point. Please follow this Facebook group to get our updates!”
If you’re wondering how to get there, attendees are using the website ‘Rallybus’ to find transportation, or MarchMatch.org is trying to join-up travellers with carpools (Cassady Fendlay, a spokeswomen for the march, has caveated that MarchMatch is not affiliated with the march and hasn’t been vetted for safety).
More information about how to get to Washington for the march can be found in a New York Times article here.
For answers to FAQ’s about the march in London and updates about the day, check the official website.
Search @womensmarch on Twitter to find city-specific pages for information.
#womensmarch #whyimarch #womensmarchlon
- Washington March
- London March
- Around the world — go here.
