As Trump takes office, women around the county and the country raise their voices in defiance
The Women’s March on Washington is a grassroots effort to preserve women’s rights as human rights, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, immigration status, sexual identity, gender expression, economic status, age or disability, according to the movement’s website (womensmarch.com). What started as a march on Washington D.C. after President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration has become a movement of planned marches and walks in cities around the world. The website has a daily counter of new marches being added, and as of Jan. 17 the number had reached 616, with sister marches scheduled all over the United States and in places like Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and Myanmar.
In Sonoma County, a rally is planned on Jan. 21 at 12 p.m. at Santa Rosa City Hall. The rally will be followed by a 30-minute march through downtown Santa Rosa. The event will include diverse music from the Wings of Glory Choir and Hubbub Band, inspirational speakers and a dance mob. Local community members will present a variety of options for engagement and action. Speakers include the Reverend Anne Gray Byrd, Alicia Sanchez, Annie Dobbs Kramer and more. The event is endorsed by the Sonoma County Democratic Party, National Organization for Women, National Center for Lesbian Rights, North Bay Organizing Project, Sonoma County Commission for the Status of Women, Guided to Safety and the Russian River Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.
According to Janice Blalock, First District Commissioner on the county’s Commission on the Status of Women, the Santa Rosa event sprang up through a grassroots effort from a single group of individuals.
“A number of us organizations got involved as volunteers and to endorse the event,” Blalock said at the Board of Supervisors meeting. “That’s why I’m here today.”
Santa Rosa’s event is just one of a handful occurring in the Bay Area. The cities of Sonoma and Napa both have events planned; Sonoma’s march will occur at 11 a.m. at the Sonoma Plaza while Napa’s march is planned for 10 a.m. at the Veteran’s Memorial Park. The bigger Bay Area cities also have marches planned: Oakland’s march begins at 10 a.m. at Madison Square and San Francisco’s march will commence at 3 p.m. at the city’s civic center. Sacramento will also host a march at the California State Capitol building, beginning at 10 a.m.
In solidarity with the national Women’s March movement, the Board of Supervisors declared Saturday, Jan. 21 as Sonoma County Stands Together For Women Day.
“This is so important,” said Board Chair Shirlee Zane, author of the resolution.
According to Blalock, the event falls on the eve of the 44th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision.
“The event is about unity of our communities where hate, intolerance and acts of violence are perpetuated,” Blalock said. “It is meant to showcase the strength and wisdom … to come together to promote common good.”
Many women from around the county will be participating in marches near and far and present a snapshot of solidarity for the coming presidential term. We emailed some of them to let them share their vision for this historic event.
Name: Juliana LeRoy
Age: 47
Occupation: Paraeducator for special needs preschoolers
Where I’m from: Windsor
Where I’m marching: Santa Rosa
Who I’m going with: Still in the planning stage – friends and/or family
How I’m getting there: Driving/carpooling
Why I am marching: Throughout our history we as Americans have stood up for what we believe to be right. We broke with England to become our own nation; we faced our conscience regarding slavery with the Civil War; and we stood in solidarity with people of color in the Civil Rights Movement. We’ve addressed the rights of women – that we should have the right to vote and the right to govern our own bodies – and the rights of people who love one another being able to legally demonstrate that love regardless of race or gender.
I am appalled by the character shown (over and over and over again) by the man elected to our highest office and by the support shown by the people who endorsed him. As a woman I fear for a culture that dismisses and devalues our rights. As a mother of a gay child I fear for a culture that vilifies and threatens the safety of people who love someone of the same gender. As a mother of a child with special needs I fear for a culture that mocks, denigrates or reduces the value of a human being based on their abilities. As a person who realizes that people with different backgrounds, beliefs, or cultural experiences brings strength to our country, I fear for a culture that expresses distrust, hostility and outright hatred for someone based on those differences.
I am appalled by the choices and decisions made by people who regularly show their instability by knee-jerk responses, intemperate comments and fixed mindsets. I am angered by people who are out for themselves and show no respect or care for anyone other than themselves. That our governing offices are being filled by people who fall into these categories frightens me. The new government feels like a regime – archaic, punitive and fear-mongering – and their leader is petulant and uninformed. This is a historically proven recipe for disaster.
What I hope to accomplish: I hope that the march represents the America I believe in: one that includes, respects, and celebrates differences.
Name: Susan Nelson Kendall
Age: 66
Occupation: Mostly retired branding and market research professions
Where I’m from: Cloverdale
Where I’m marching: D.C.
Who I’m going with: My sister, nephew and his girlfriend
How I’m getting there: Staying in New York and taking one of the chartered buses down.
Why I am marching: It isn’t much, but it is something. We believe it is important that the new administration continually be made aware they are elected by a minority and that we are watching and paying attention.
Historically, after taking two steps forward, the U.S. takes one step back. We want to contribute to making sure that this step back is only temporary and that the country again moves forward towards more social and economic justice.
I was not a Bernie supporter. Although he said lovely things, they were unrealistic and impractical. As a natural moderate, I believed Hillary was the right choice to continue the path we were on and don’t want to forget that even though the election is over. This is another way of reminding myself that she didn’t lose the people, only the electoral vote (and now it looks like even that was stolen).
What I hope to accomplish: Being part of an emerging movement that can regain the Congress in two years and the Presidency in four. And, to know that I didn’t just sit back and continue to feel depressed.
Name: Chelsea Rickard
Age: 43
Occupation: Stay at home Mom, former Registered Dental Assistant
Where I’m from: Geyserville
Where I’m marching: San Francisco
Who I’m going with: A friend, also a woman
How I’m getting there: By car and possibly the ferry
Why I am marching: I am attending the women’s march because I strongly believe that all persons should be treated equally. I want to make a stand against the racism and bigotry seen in our country over the past year. I was very disappointed that so many women had voted for a president-elect whom has bigoted, misogynistic and xenophobic views. By participating in the Women’s March I want to stand up for women’s rights, LGBTQ rights, disabled person’s rights and the rights of minorities. I also hope to connect with other individuals who have the same beliefs about equality that I have.
What I hope to accomplish: I hope that our march will communicate to our country and the world that all persons should be treated equally, regardless of their gender, color, ethnicity, economic status or whom they love.
Name: Pamela Deas
Age: 56
Occupation: Accountant
Where I’m From: Healdsburg
Where I’m marching: D.C.
Who I’m going with: I plan to take a friend, although we’ve not worked out the details. I have a friend who lives in D.C., from Healdsburg and I plan to walk with him and his visitors from this area.
How I’m getting there: Air travel to D.C., then metro to march, car for other travel.
Why I am marching: I have always been significantly more progressive politically than any national candidate I could choose. I have only voted for two presidential candidates who won. I was too young to vote for Jimmy Carter, although he remains one of my personal heroes. So, I am well acquainted with tolerating policies and elected officials whom I did not support, or even respect. This election is entirely different. The outcome of this election represents a danger to the actual existence of the United States. The level of corruption evidenced by every facet of the incoming administration is unprecedented. The policies espoused destroy almost a century of progress in gender justice, social justice, racial justice and environmental progress—to name only a few.
This country was founded on the principle of secular government and the people’s right to be free of the tyranny of oligarchy. Our institutions are strong and have withstood many challenges, but a government for, of, and by the people absolutely requires that its citizens participate in the process. During times of peace and prosperity, that might mean voting responsibly and showing up for jury duty without too much grousing. This is not one of those pacific moments. Right now, our nation needs every citizen of conscience to put their words and their bodies in the way of the juggernaut. If we want this beautiful experiment to celebrate another century of existence, then we must shout, we must march and we must push back. If we want to leave a livable planet for our descendants, then we must shout, we must march and we must push back.
What I hope to accomplish:
I shall count the entire enterprise a success if the incoming commander of the D.C. Militia does not shoot into the crowd and if no right-wing extremist group sets off a bomb. With any luck, the energy and scope of the protests throughout the world will put Congressional leaders on notice that they, at least, do not benefit from the cult of celebrity and personality that slightly shields the White House. I do not expect any positive reaction whatsoever from the White House administration, as I consider them to be incapable of learning, and utterly without scruple. I do hope the desired outcome of the week—low attendance and ratings for inauguration—high attendance and ratings for the march—elicits as much furious attention as possible, so as to distract (President-elect Trump) from more destructive actions
