Women's marches begin with a focus in 2020 and progressive policies

January 19, 2019 U.S. Comments Off on Women's marches begin with a focus in 2020 and progressive policies

The marches are presented as accusations of anti-Semitism against the leaders of Women's National Inc. and the main march of Washington, which those leaders have denied, forced some demonstration organizers in other cities to dissociate themselves from that group.

But for the third year in a row, protesters flocked to rallies at the Freedom Plaza in Washington, New York and elsewhere on Saturday. Some are affiliated with Women & # 39; s March Inc. and others do not.

Before the morning meeting in Los Angeles, Yanti Palleschi sat at a table and joined others who were writing messages on banners.

"I come every year, I'm proud of the work women have done in the last election, but we need more powerful women," said Palleschi of Sherman Oaks, California, and a member of a nonprofit women's organization.

Waving for progressive laws

These marches are derived from those that began in January 2017 as a demonstration of resistance to Trump's election. In 2018, the movement changed to focus on midterm elections.

The march of women is evolving, but their enemies are the same.

This year, organizers say, it's not just about commemorating victories like unprecedented victories for the Democratic Party by women of color in the midterm exams, but also about stirring progressive laws and positions that say they will benefit women of race, clbad, badual orientation and others. identities

That includes pressing for a policy document called "Women's Agenda," which addresses issues such as immigrant rights, violence against women, civil rights and liberties, and climate justice, among others.

"The agenda focuses specifically on legislative actions and policies that can be achieved by 2020," said the Director of Women's March Operations, Rachel Carmona.

A group holds posters on Saturday in Washington's Plaza de la Libertad.

Jessica González-Rojas, executive director of the National Institute of Latinas for Reproductive Health, described the agenda as a policy tool that organizers from different cities can use to address issues that are important to their communities.

What makes it unique is how it takes typically gender-neutral issues, such as immigration, and offers policy solutions that specifically benefit women and families, he said.

"It's about looking at different identities between women and "Women and political solutions to address attacks against those identities," he said.

No other congress has seen itself like this.

In New York, protesters gathered for at least two separate events, including one in Foley Square for a "Women's Unity Rally." The organizers said they aim "to demand equal justice for black women, immigrant women, women of color and people who do not conform to gender."

The scheduled speakers were to include the first lady of the city of New York, Chirlane McCray, the women's rights activist Gloria Steinem and the US representative. UU Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the 29-year-old freshman from New York, whose followers among progressives from across the country have made her one of the highest profile Democrats in the house.

Ocasio-Cortez, the youngest woman elected to Congress, was at a separate rally near Central Park on Saturday morning. She said that the two events in New York shared the same message.

"All these women come together in solidarity among themselves, to support each other and to make sure that each voice is amplified, protected and advanced in the United States of America," he told CNN.

The representative of the United States, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, in the center, attends a march event near Central Park in New York.

Concern about diversity, inclusion and allegations of intolerance.

The marches are produced because concerns about diversity and inclusion have shaken groups across the country. Accusations of intolerance against the leaders of Women & # 39; s March Inc., the national group formed by the organizers of the March 2017, threaten to overshadow the work of grbadroots activists.

This is what you should know (and where to go) for the 2019 women's marches

One of the leaders of the national group was criticized in particular for his badociation with the leader of the Nation of Islam Louis Farrakhan. Farrakhan, who has led the black nationalist group since 1977, is known for his hyperbolic hate speech directed at the Jewish community and made comments such as "the powerful Jews are my enemy" in February.

The group has published numerous statements condemning anti-Semitism and committing to learn from their mistakes through training and discussions, promises that people badociated with the group say are ongoing.

In Washington, the marquee Carmella Ormando told CNN that the controversy did not make her any doubt about her participation.

"Because nothing is perfect," said the Arlington, Virginia, resident when asked why. "Because they have worked to solve some of their problems and use them as an opportunity to make some changes.

"And because we need to support each other, because the cause is much bigger."

She and Marian Klymkowsky, also of Arlington, said they marched in 2017. Klymkowsky said they had returned because they are not satisfied with the President.

"He is not uniting the country, he has perfect solutions for the problems he himself did," he said. "Why would not you be here marching?"

Emanuella Grinberg, Madeline Holcombe, Stephanie Becker, Dakin Andone, Meg Wagner, Greg Clary and Jessica Dean contributed to this report.

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