I have confidence that is/will happen as well, @HImom. I’ve already seen signs of it.
Know your rights to protest/march: https://www.acludc.org/demonstrate
@HImom , this might be a one-time thing, but it could become something more.
I was part of the “unruly mob” at the Texas Capitol in summer 2013 when Wendy Davis did her infamous filibuster regarding reproductive rights. I got involved at the one-time request of a friend to attend a hearing and soon was absolutely a true believer and showed up day after day after day as the crowds grew.
This coincided with ds2 leaving for college (though he was there with me on some days!). Political activism, whatever your stripe, could be that empty-nest activity so many of us talk about on cc. This world isn’t going to change on its own. Be the change that you wish to see, right?
I just got back from a meeting by the organizers of the march in Denver. Apparently, there are about 200 (!!) “sister” marches world wide. They vary in mission statements and focus, but all are linked to the march on Washington and come in reaction to the US election.
HImom, I was struck by how many people at this meeting are looking beyond the 21st… they’re organizing, or joining existing organizations, sharing strategies and ideas. If we can hold onto this feeling and resolve, we may be building something powerful. No one is being naive or expects overnight change, but apparently the movement is already having an impact. Local and national representatives say they’ve been inundated with phone calls, emails and letters. My hope is… they haven’t seen anything yet 
I just love how this whole thing got started. Apparently one woman in Hawaii simply posted on her FB page “I think we should march.” And this is what happened – almost every state and 17 countries around the world are rallying!! 
The power of one, as they say.
@HImom It’s definitely possible to have more females in office. My 2 US senators, state senator, state assembly member, county supervisor, mayor, and 4/5 of both local school boards are all female. My US house of representatives member was also female until she retired recently. We have a local PAC dedicated to getting more progressive women in office. The PAC was founded in 1987, and locally it’s to the point where there’s a story of an elected official speaking at a school Career Day and having a young boy ask her, “I’m a boy. Can I still run for office?”
The key is that women don’t tend to run for office unless they are asked to serve. Men tend to run as part of their own ambition. (I served on a school board, and would have never thought of running except that a member of the board suggested that I run.)
Our state currently has 3 women and 1 man in Congress. We have had 4 men, 0 women. Our legislature is still mostly men, as is our City Council.
So looks like it is now 30 countries not 17 as I posted above. I like the vision that the global effort has articulated – Health, Economic Security, Representation and Safety (H.E.R.S.) Sounds good to me!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/5878a635e4b094e1aa9dc530?timestamp=1484326120834
Our PEOTUS has fired the head of the DC National Guard. Some people worry he means to appoint someone more in line with his views, possibly to the detriment of protesters. Also, there are reports that James O’Keefe was caught trying to pay protesters to “riot” during the inauguration. I know that’s not the same day but - stay safe everyone!
Graduates of the “Seven Sister Colleges” are marching together in several of the locations, but I haven’t been able to find information for any of my family’s other colleges. If you have a link to info for groups from any of the following, could you send me a PM?
Penn State
Iowa State
University of Northern Iowa
Luther College
Towson University
Shenandoah University
Cornell University
Illinois Benedictine
Iowa Wesleyan
Coe College
Mt. St. Clare (Iowa)
Southeastern Community College (Iowa)
Montgomery College (Maryland)
To those who will march: I wish I could be with you. You speak for me. Thank you.
To others like myself who can’t march for whatever reason: We must find ways to raise our voices closer to home, on the 21st and every day thereafter. This effort has to be sustained, and it has to be nationwide.
I’ll be marching in Philadelphia, with my super cool, retired eleventh grade Sociology teacher. She used to tell us stories about protesting and burning bras in the sixties. Strong women inspire even more strong women.
Stay safe, everyone! Happy marching.
’
Ok so for a little humor, I share this story.
Today was sign-making day at the Romani house. Someone decided that they wanted glitter on their sign and I said fine but that she had to do it outside because I didn’t want glitter spilling on accident in the house.
I neglected to think about the fact that I had a dog who runs around in the back yard and then comes inside. So of course, my dog’s paws have glitter and now so does pretty much everywhere in the house.
Oh well. At least it is just a little bit here and there… and quite a bit on the couch where she normally lays.
The march in Columbus, Ohio is today. Are there other marches this weekend? My D’s planned to go but D1 had an unavoidable hitch that had to cancel that plan. D2 who is on a local campus (without a car) is hugely disappointed!
@abasket - I think there are MLK weekend marches this weekend/tomorrow. I’ve seen notices for things specifically MLK-related. From what I’ve seen, they are drawing smaller numbers, but I have seen MLK events in cities that are also having women’s march events.
The Columbus event is definitely a Women’s March - I loved this idea:
“The walk will head east on West Broad Street and end at the Statehouse, where anyone unable to attend the national march on Jan. 21 can write messages and pin them onto the backs of people who plan to attend, the organizers said.”
@romani, lol about your glitter story.
We had a sign making party on Friday night here at my house. 12 mothers and daughters worked while watching Michelle Obama’s CNN bio and listening to our March playlist. The highlight of the evening was when we skyped our friend, who is one of the DC organizers to share our work with her.
@lilmom and everyone else, care to share what you wrote on your signs?