WALL STREET JOURNAL - Eight years have passed since the historic first march, the Women's March is coming back to the nation's capital this Saturday, just before the inauguration of the incoming U.S. President Donald Trump.
—the hope is to increase support, particularly at a watershed moment for progressive activism following Trump's decisive win in November. The Republican will be sworn in on Monday.
The Women's March held large gatherings in cities across Canada, laying the groundwork for the grassroots movement on our shores. The rally in Toronto saw over half a million participants, while millions more joined in local marches across the country, making it one of the largest single-day protests in Canada's history.
This year's march is expected to be about one-tenth the size of the first one and comes in a subdued atmosphere as many progressive voters feel drained, let down, and downhearted after Vice President Kamala Harris’ defeat. The calmness stands out starkly compared to the rally for the inaugural event as huge crowds had shouted their demands over megaphones and marched in pink pussyhats in response to President Trump's first election victory.
For Women’s March, it’s difficult to bottle lightning, but that fleeting moment following the Trump presidency was exceptional in its intensity, as it was a significant departure from what we'd seen before.
The movement experienced a big split after the major protest day, with a lot of criticism about a lack of diversity. This year's effort to rebrand as a "Peoples March" is the outcome of a major overhaul intended to give the group a broader public appeal. The demonstration on Saturday will focus on themes like feminism, racial justice, anti-militarism and other important issues, and will conclude with discussions led by a variety of social justice groups.
The People’s March is unusual in the “vast array of issues brought together under one banner,” said Jo Reger, a sociology prof who looks into social movements at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan. Women’s suffrage marches, for instance, were focused on a specific goal of getting the right to vote.
For a broad-based social justice movement such as the march, conflicting visions are impossible to avoid and there is "immense pressure" on organizers to meet everyone's needs, Reger said. But she added that some discord isn't necessarily a bad thing.
“Onto the table often brings change and brings forward fresh viewpoints, particularly from voices that have previously been marginalized,”
It's not our goal to have a massive demonstration like we did in 2017," said Middleton of the Women's March. "Rather, Saturday's event aims to draw attention to a broader range of issues, including women's and reproductive rights, the rights of the LGBTQ+ community, immigration, climate change, and democracy, rather than focusing solely on President Trump.
We're not considering the march as the conclusion," Middleton said. "How do we get those individuals who are participating into organizations and their respective political parties so they can continue to fight for their causes in their own communities long term?
The Associated Press
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