Anyone else attending a women's march?

[Kath2]

Do you think it has lost momentum? I love the event but I don't feel the excitement for it this year.

[dhol82]

1. Haven't heard much about it.

Agree with you about the lack of energy.
Might be we are all just exhausted by what has been going on with the Russian puppet.

[Kath2]

4. Exactly.

Everyone is exhausted and totally disgusted with what is going on.

[bdamomma]

46. they are breaking

us mentally. I hope many will brave the weather and go.

[comradebillyboy]

2. The SPLC has dropped out as have many others

https://www.thedailybeast.com/southern-poverty-law-center-quietly-joins-the-roster-of-big-groups-walking-away-from-the-womens-march

Southern Poverty Law Center Quietly Joins the Roster of Big Groups Walking Away from the Women’s March

[Kath2]

9. Our local march has distanced itself from the national women's march.

"First, the 2019 Frederick Women’s March is a local event. It is part of the global Women’s March grassroots movement, but it is not directly affiliated with the National Women’s March organization. The volunteers who organized this year’s Frederick Women’s March sent a letter to the National Women’s March Committee expressing dissent about the association of some of the National Women’s March Committee members with Louis Farrakhan. While some amount of disagreement between groups is normal, our local volunteers do not believe the Farrakhan issue is one that can be compromised or ignored. We have linked an article discussing the Louis Farrakhan issue in the comments."

[redwitch]

3. This time I am going to Washington.

Bonus is I get to protest the shutdown too! I think we are all weary to our bones at this point and I probably wouldn’t be going this time if not for my friend. She has never been to a protest before so when she asked me I couldn’t say no.

[Kath2]

5. Good for you!

I'll be going to a local march in Frederick, MD with a friend attending her first protest.

Yes! Protest the shutdown!!!

[idahoblue]

12. I am going to Washington

I believe the Women’s March is about all of us. The complaint that it is to White, anti-semitic, unwelcoming is an effort to divide. The criticism should be a catalyst to unite and fight back. There is no engraved invitation to participate, there is no application form. Just show up.
I am marching for civil rights, voter rights, the environment and in protest of everything this administration is doing.
There are three marches in my area of Idaho, Boise, Twin Falls and Ketchum. Boise will be the most diverse, Twin Falls will be the least. That is just the population of the cities, it has nothing to do with the March or the organizers.

This is about all of us, about the future of our country. It was the catalyst for the blue, women’s wave. We flipped a seat because of the Indivisible movement, a direst result of the first Women’s March.

See you in DC!

[redwitch]

17. Bravo!

I agree there is a movement to divide us, we won’t let them! See you there!

[Kath2]

23. Right on!

[Stinky The Clown]

6. We were but this thread is kinda disappointing.

Not sure now.

Why are big groups dropping support?

[idahoblue]

13. This is how they divide us

Show up, fight for what you believe in. It is disappointing that some groups are buying the what the trolls are selling. This is how the right wins.

[crazycatlady]

7. I am attending NYC's march

And based on my pussyhat sales (Etsy traffic is way down from last year), I think it has sadly lost momentum.

[Kath2]

10. I think everyone is worn out and worn down.

[EffieBlack]

24. Marches are a tactic but shouldn't be seen as the thing

The original marches had tremendous impact and help move us to where we are now, which is a much better position than we were in January 2017.

I see our goals now as pushing and working with the house Democrats to move things even further along. Everything does not require a march.

[crazycatlady]

25. So I'm not to enjoy something?

I like going to marches. I like being around like-minded people. If you don't want to go, then don't, but you seem like you want to take a giant dump all over it.

As for House Democrats, unfortunately I am in the only GOP district in my state. I have no say when it comes to pushing Democratic legislation around.

[EffieBlack]

30. No, no - not saying that!

I was just explaining why I think the march doesn't seem to have as much support this year.

And you also have much more say than you think when it comes to moving legislation. Marches aren't the only way to make a difference. Check out Lunasun's awesome post #20 in this thread for examples!

[bdamomma]

47. Do you

think it's because the Dems are in the HOUSE.

[Kath2]

39. I feel you.

I really enjoy the marches. Being in a very Catholic, uptight, conservative family it is a relief to get with so many like-minded people.

[crazycatlady]

42. The first Women's March turned my former apolitical friend into a full-fledged Resister Sister

Just last week, she was going off on the shutdown to someone in the Target ladies' room and talking about what a piece of shit Trump is.

She's a registered Republican.

[Kath2]

43. Fantastic!

Well done, crazycatlady!

[Sanity Claws]

8. I plan to go to the one in NYC next Saturday.

[Kath2]

11. Thank you.

[crazycatlady]

19. I will be too

[Sanity Claws]

21. I'll look for a crazy cat lady when I'm there

Do you think you might be the only crazy cat lady there?

[crazycatlady]

22. Most likely not

But I will be carrying 2 (cat) tote bags of pussyhats to sell

[Maeve]

14. Went looking and RSVP'd the one in Columbus, OH

Thanks for the reminder

[frazzled]

15. Nope; have gone to the two before

but Chicago Women's March (which is not affiliated with the national organization and has condemned that leadership's statements) is not having a march this year at all. Instead it is asking people to coordinate their own political or service activities that weekend. The previous two marches here, in 2017 and 2018, drew over 300,000 people each.

The march idea is losing ground for several reasons: most notably, the offensive positions of the national leaders; but also because the marches, while invigorating and drawing attention to issues, have not really done anything to effect real change on the ground. To do that, real organization is needed, on specific issues. I think people feel it's time to stop marching and start doing the hard work of getting some movement on real legislation. Plus: January. It's frickin' cold out there.

[Achilleaze]

16. k and r

[yellowdogintexas]

18. I will be attending the Fort Worth, Texas march which will be on the 20th

One of Fort Worth's biggest events is kicking off this week (the FW Stock Show) and the parade is on the 19th. It is the largest parade in the US which has no motorized anything. Everyone is either on horseback, in carriages or walking. The entire downtown area will be packed, plus no one wants to march after that many horses.

Interestingly Dallas moved theirs to the 20th because there were several MLK day events on the 19th; I have only seen events scheduled for the 21st though.

Ours kicks off at 10:00 am, which means many church services will conflict. I can walk over from mine but not everyone has that convenience. I expect a much smaller crowd.

Yes, we are all exhausted from 2018. Also, the march committee is composed of members of more groups than usual, which seems to be an issue

[lunasun]

20. In Chicago the March has moved on to action . As a previous attendee I got this email last month

Marching motivates! As we learned since we first marched together in January 2017, making our voices heard empowers us to act whether collectively or as individuals. Just look at voter turnout after WMC’s October March to the Polls. It was reported to be at its highest level in decades.

In celebration of WMC’s third anniversary, we are asking our amazing community to come together for a day of action. Please join us on Saturday, January 19, 2019 for Operation Activation.

To be clear, WMC is not holding a march in January. This time around, Operation Activation is celebrating your power to effect change. WMC is calling on you to spearhead an action in your community that helps people feel safe, included, respected and represented, while encouraging others to activate.

It can be as large as organizing a rally in support of gun violence prevention in your local park (please dress warmly). Or as small as a gathering around your dining room table to write postcards to politicians denouncing the current administration’s immigration policies. If it snows, you can help elderly or disabled neighbors shovel their walks. Or your family can host a neighborhood coat drive to help the homeless. The possibilities are endless

——————-Please note > different coalitions are here so maybe a separate faction is still marching I am not sure but here is wmc ‘s reason below

- WMC never planned to march in January 2019. We did not "cancel" the march, as there was no march to cancel.

- This decision was made last spring, when it was determined that the march would be moved to October 2018 to fire up marchers to volunteer for candidates and vote in the critical midterm elections.

- A decision was also made at that time to mark WMC's third anniversary in January 2019 with an important action or other non-marching event.

- The reality is that WMC would never have the needed funding or volunteer power to host two major back-to-back marches. However, WMC will remain a galvanizing force in Chicago and we will march again

For me :
....this is happening on MLK weekend and our family is already doing something in Chicago relAted to that holiday as far as a day of action or day of service on Monday which always has been an event -MLK Day of service, so probably will not do another day of service or action on Saturday with WMC

[guillaumeb]

26. Yes, the one in Chicago.

Momentum can be hard to sustain.

[byronius]

27. I'll be attending them every year until the day I die.

Sacramento's. And I don't care if I'm the only one. It's Real.

[virgogal]

28. Waste of time-it accomplishes nothing.

[Atticus]

32. The January 21, 2016 March formed the basis for the MeToo and Resistence movements. IMHO,

it encouraged the record number of women candidates we saw in 2018. But, you are entitled to your opinion.

[Hekate]

50. The original March(es) were hugely successful.

[johnp3907]

29. Yes, in Pittsburgh.

[Atticus]

31. My wife and I and a busload coming from Illinois. This year it is a two-fer as we will also be

protesting Trump's shutdown and, as always, urging his impeachment. Also, as someone else mentioned in this thread, when you live in a DEEP red area, it is difficult to pass up the chance to spend a few hours with thousands of like-minded people.

[mcar]

33. I attended the DC March - the first one

It was a life changing experience. I retired my number after it cause nothing could compare...

Then helped to form a Democratic Women's Club in my red county.

[Kath2]

36. That is excellent.

Love it that you were so inspired!

[wasupaloopa]

34. I will join my wife and friends in the march in San Luis Obispo in the mornig then seeing

Lily Tomlin in the evening in the same city. I hope she joins the march with us.

[Kath2]

37. She id pretty politically active.

She may be joining you.

[wasupaloopa]

40. I hope so.

[Hekate]

49. Waving hello to SLO from Ventura! Enjoy!

[wasupaloopa]

51. I live in Santa Maria but we go north or south on the 101 most weekends.

[demigal]

35. My granddaughter has inherited my pussyhat

because she plans to go. This is quite remarkable because she has only heard GOP views from her father and stepfather.

[Kath2]

38. Fantastic.

I love hearing stories like that.

[Behind the Aegis]

41. March On

It is not affiliated with the national group and has no problem condemning anti-Semitism (as well as homophobia and transphobia) in no uncertain terms. They have several groups planning marches for the 19th.

MARCH ON!

[Adrahil]

44. My wife and I had planned on going ...

... but right now the weather guessers are saying we could get a foot of snow that day.

WE did the gun safety march in the snow and my daughter nearly got hypothermia, so might not brave the weather this time.

[Mc Mike]

45. Yes, Pittsburgh.

[Hekate]

48. If I had not moved last year, I'd go to one locally. I'm not really in the loop in my new town...

...but my old home had a well-established and vibrant Women's Political Committee devoted to a feminist liberal agenda, and a separate but allied Democratic Women's group (aka Dem Women, a pun on Them Women). I knew many of them. There hasn't been any loss of momentum that I ever saw, and certainly no issues with anti-Semitism or homophobia, which seems to be the concern with the national group -- and wtf is that all about, I'd like to know.

It's a damn shame that someone has decided to toss a bomb into what was initially a really impressive endeavor.

[Kath2]

52. I agree.