The Women’s March is back, and with it comes the powerful impetus of clear moral purpose. And at the right time, too: we are all in dire need of its message. To say that the march is backed up by a strong historical momentum is an understatement, as people around the world rally to face the dangers of the extreme conservatism that has risen in recent years. At its heart, the women’s movement is an emphatic stand against the regression of cultural values and social rights that came with the backwardness of Trump’s administration. That’s its goal. That’s its banner. And that’s a cause we should all stand for.
In 2017, the Women’s March became the largest single-day protest in the history of the United States, breaking all kinds of both national and international records. More than 5 million people participated in the U.S. alone and over 7 million worldwide. And it all started as a reaction to Trump’s overt misogyny and overall social toxicity.
Despite the name, the march’s agenda is not limited to the welfare of women and feminism (although that clearly plays a big role). Its worries actually extend far beyond, towards the ultimate wellbeing of humanity as a whole—now and in the future. It tackles topics that range from minorities rights (standing against racial and religious profiling, LGBTQ+ discrimination, etc) to environmental health and climate change.
As per the explicit statement on their official website, the march is posed to make some waves this time around.
“The 2017 Women’s March inspired hundreds of women to run, millions more to vote, and dozens to win elected office. The 2019 Women’s March marks two years of resistance to the Trump presidency, two years of training new activists, and two years of building power. And this time, we’re coming back with an agenda.”
Photo by Phil Roeder.
And indeed, the official agenda is clear enough, stating that:
“Social movements are the only bulwark against the rising tide of authoritarianism, misogyny, white nationalism, racism, anti-Semitism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, Islamophobia, ableism, classism, and ageism.”
Photo by Phil Roeder.
The explicit struggle to deal with harmful social prejudices constitutes what the Women’s March calls the Unity Principles, as established in 2017. Two years later, the movement has grown to encompass dozens of additional organizations all of which fight for all the following goals:
To end
1. Violence against women & femmes
2. State violence
To promote
3. Reproductive rights & justice
4. Racial justice
5. LGBTQIA+ rights
6. Immigrant rights
7. Economic justice & worker’s rights
8. Civil rights & liberties
9. Disability rights
10. Environmental justice
Photo by Mobilus In Mobili.
The Women’s March is a non-violent movement that has empowered and inspired many groups to stand against systemic mistreatment. It was one of the catalysts behind the massive #MeToo movement, which helped shed light on the widespread issue of sexual harassment and abuse in several industries, and gave a voice to otherwise frightened victims of assault.
So, if you happen to be in Washington DC tomorrow, you might want to join the event. You should take a look at the official map here, and keep in mind the following pointers:
It’s certainly a good cause, and hopefully its message will be powerful enough as a beacon of hope in the ongoing struggle against contemporary manifestations of social injustice.
(Cover photo by Mobilus In Mobili)
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