‘One million’ women expected to march in DC on Trump’s inauguration weekend
Over a million women are expected to march in Washington D.C. to “take a stand” for women’s rights, a day after Donald Trump is sworn into office, organizers say.
Scheduled to take place on Saturday January 21, the day after Trump’s inauguration, the march has been spurred by the president-elect’s attitude towards women, including a series of degrading comments made about women in the past, said Bob Bland, one of the New York organizers.
The “Women's March on Washington,” has already attracted more than 40,000 people within 24 hours of it being announced, according to the group’s Facebook page.
On January 20th, Trump will be sworn as President. On January 21st, a million women plan to march at the White House to condemn his misogyny
— Miriam Brett (@MiriamBrett) November 11, 2016
#millionwomenmarch#January21..start the movement!
— Bonnie Morton (@kd5vmd) November 11, 2016
Organizers were criticised for initially calling the event "Million Women March," a 1997 Philadelphia event organised by African-American women to highlight issues that were seen to be ignored by other women’s rights groups.
Y'all prove just how much you care about black women by trying to steal #millionwomanmarch from us. #WomensMarchOnWashington
— Sarah Williams (@Nerdyandnatural) November 12, 2016
White women didn't come out the 1st time and think Black women are going to get behind the #WomensMarchOnWashington. We did that in 1997
— Inner Glow (@datbrokelife1) November 12, 2016
Black women had a Million Woman March already. The organizers of the #MillionWomenMarch need to be more original in naming this event. https://t.co/EzrJz57dv2
— Jenee Darden (@CocoaFly) November 11, 2016
“This is an INCLUSIVE march, and EVERYONE who supports women's rights are welcome,” reads the event’s Facebook page. “This is not an anti-trump protest - but a peaceful march to take a stand for our values, our loved ones and our rights.”
My friend Sara Lanthier #Toronto is going to #millionwomenmarch in #DC in Jan. THIS is the response from #airbnb place she wants to rent pic.twitter.com/ums9Iqm04s
— Michelle Butterly (@MButterly) November 12, 2016
Considering flying halfway around the world for this. If you can, sisters - DO IT! #MillionWomenMarchpic.twitter.com/46RQ19vnXx
— Donna Hosie 🇬🇧🎄 (@donnahosie) November 11, 2016
It is so important that the young girls of this country see what their moms/aunts/sisters do next #feminism#millionwomenmarch#equalrights
— Kelsey Peterson (@kpduty8) November 12, 2016
Plans for the march came together two days after Trump won the election, Bland added.
“We need to be working together in a coherent, supportive way over the next four years, to activate more women into leadership positions, to be more politically active,” she said. “We cannot allow ourselves to give up, put our heads down and not hold this administration accountable for any violation of human rights or women’s rights.”
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Fontaine Pearson, another organizer from Memphis, said people are being mobilised state by state.
“We have a huge groundswell of women,” she told Reuters. “This is growing faster than anyone expected.”
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Trump was heavily criticized during his election campaign for insulting female reporters and was also denounced after a video emerged of him bragging about groping women, prompting further allegations of sexual harassment from several others.
Trump denied any wrongdoing following the release of the footage and said his words were simply “locker room talk.”
‘Grab them by the p***y’: Leaked audio of Trump causes GOP backlash https://t.co/VKQu7yvZnEpic.twitter.com/ATUZ1tqCo3
— RT America (@RT_America) October 8, 2016