[dropcap]I[/dropcap]n case you haven’t heard: on January 21, 2017 – the day after President-Elect Donald Trump’s inauguration into the White House – 200,000 (and counting!) Americans plan to participate in a parade of protest by marching around the city of Washington, D.C. It’s expected by major news sites to be an elaborate exhibition, but the idea itself originated from one lone Facebook post by a Hawaii resident named Teresa Shook. When coordinating the logistics of the event quickly became a bit too much for one person to handle, Shook was able to collaborate with a team of activists that have since assisted her in organizing the ultimate statement. Whether your daily itinerary is chock-full of combatting the patriarchy or you’ve just begun to embark on the glorious journey that is feminism, here are 5 reasons why you should strut your way into history books and attend the Women’s March on Washington.
- It’s more than an anti-Trump protest. In fact, it was never specifically intended to be a strike against Trump at all. According to the Women’s March’s official mission statement, the ultimate goal is to “send a bold message to our new government on their first day in office, and to the world that women’s rights are human rights”. The declaration also promises not to rest “until women have parity and equality at all levels of leadership in society”, and places a focus on the intersecting identities and minority groups that must be defended alongside women as a whole. Even if you’re a person that has deemed the battle against Trump and his presidency a lost cause, don’t write this organization off. The Women’s March on Washington stresses the impacts of human rights within state and local governments in addition to federal.
- The movement is LGBTQ+ and POC inclusive. With a board of directors comprised almost exclusively of women of color, the Women’s March is no place for white feminism. The vision of its founders makes sure to emphasize the intersectionality that feminism entails, noting empathy and self-discovery as two of its guiding principles.
- Transportation to the march is readily available. Since trains and buses rush to and from the nation’s capital on the regular, this point is kind of a given. However, if a lack of a vehicle is the only obstacle preventing you from participating in the protest, there are a number of organizations sponsoring trips that will gladly transport you to the event. If making an appearance at the official Women’s March just isn’t financially feasible for you, there are a number of Sister Marches taking place around the country. You can search for one taking place in your area here.
- The Women’s March on Washington is set to go down in history. With its current tally of nearly 300,000 RSVP’s, the rally will likely be one of the largest peaceful, non-sports-related gatherings to ever take place in the U.S. The backing of massive feminist organizations such as Planned Parenthood and endorsement by a myriad of celebrities has boosted the event’s fame even further, and participants are positive that the march is sure to set records.
- Gloria Steinem says that you should. And really, what more reason than that could you possibly need?
For more information about The Women’s March on Washington, visit the organization’s website and follow them on Twitter @womensmarch. We hope to see you there!
