Monday, January 23, 2017

THE MARCH: ORIGINS OF THE MOVEMENT


The March:
Origins of the movement - Message from the US National Organisers

The Women’s March on Washington began as an organic groundswell the day
after the 2016 election, when a grandmother in Hawaii proposed to forty of
her friends to march in Washington, D.C. Initially the name Million Women
March was used, however, the name was quickly changed when its historical
roots were brought to the founding members’ attention.

2017 marks the 20th anniversary of the 1997 Million Women March, a
mobilisation started by Dr. Phile Chionesu which brought thousands of African
American women together in Philadelphia for the social, political, and
economic development of the black community.

It was out of respect for the 1997 Million Women March and in tribute to the
historic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963 that
the name became Women’s March on Washington. The original March on
Washington – at which Martin Luther King Jr delivered his historic "I Have a
Dream" speech – set a precedent for hundreds of thousands of people of
diverse backgrounds to gather in Washington, D.C. for the advancement of
human rights, and specifically to demand civil and economic rights for African
Americans. One of the legacies of this march was the inspiration of other
historical marches, including the 1965 March on Washington for Peace in
Vietnam and the four Marches on Washington for the rights of Lesbian, Gay,
Bi and Transgender people occurring in 1979, 1987, 1993 and 2000. The
diversity of these historical moments reflect the many communities drawn to
the 2017 Women’s March on Washington, and continue to be our inspiration
in the fight for justice and human rights for all. It is in this spirit and our
desire to embrace the legacy of advancing equity and human rights set by
these marches that we call on all people to join us at the Women’s March on
Washington on January 21st, 2017.

Spirit and Ethos of January 21, 2017


This is an INCLUSIVE, INTER SECTIONAL march, and EVERYONE, around the world,
who supports women's rights are welcome. We are committed to inter sectional
feminism and inclusion:

• Women & Girls & Femmes & GNC & GF
• Men & Boys
• Families
• People of Colour
• Immigrants
• LGBT+ Community
• Individuals with disabilities
• ALL religious communities
• Climate Change Advocates
• Anyone else who wants to come out in support!

The purpose of this *non-violent*, *inclusive* and *inter sectional* protest is to take
a stand for and support women’s rights -- the rights of ALL women -- with women
from all races, all religious communities, all political affiliations, cis or trans-gendered
and all sexual orientations. Violence, whether from or against the right-wing, left-wing,
centre or independents, is not welcome and will not be condoned.

This event was sparked by Trump’s election to the White House and is a response to
the hate-inciting, divisive, discriminatory attitudes, messages and actions that have
emerged from the Trump campaign and have continued to be perpetuated by his
supporters’ post-election, in his name. To date, there is no country in the world that
has yet achieved gender equality, but that does not mean we should give up striving
towards it. We will not tolerate any discrimination or victimisation of women or any
violation of women's rights, whether through words, actions or policies. We will not
allow our hard-won rights to be trampled on and we will not be stopped in our
pursuit of inter sectional, substantive equality!

"Equal enough" is NOT enough!

We hope to see our brothers, fathers, sons, husbands and other male allies
marching with us -- women’s rights are human rights!

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