What you need to know about the Women's March on Washington
The Women's March on Washington is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of people to the capital Jan. 21. Here's why:
What you need to know about the Women's March on Washington The Women's March on Washington is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of people to the capital Jan. 21. Here's why: Check out this story on Freep.com: http://on.freep.com/2k1hdYk
Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press Published 4:14 p.m. ET Jan. 18, 2017 | Updated 4:16 p.m. ET Jan. 18, 2017
Tali Wendrow of West Bloomfield colors in letters on her sign to read "Women's Health is Family Health" on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2017 at a sign-making party at a home in Novi. The women made protest signs for the upcoming Women's March on Washington.(Photo: Rachel Woolf, Special to the Free Press)
The Women's March on Washington is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of women and their supporters to the nation's capital Jan. 21, the day after President-Elect Donald Trump's inauguration.
Here's what you need to know about the march:
QUESTION: Why are people marching?
ANSWER: The goal of the march is to demand fairness of the incoming presidential administration and all branches of government, standing united for equality and inclusion not only for women, but for all marginalized members of society, including immigrants, people with disabilities, of diverse religious faiths, of diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds and sexual orientations, of varying economic status and age.
Its agenda calls for:
Nonviolence as a force for change, accountability in the justice system and an end to racial profiling.
Reproductive freedom, including refusal to accept rollbacks, cuts or restrictions on access to reproductive health-care services, birth control, abortion, HIV/AIDS care and prevention and sex education.
Expansion and protection of the rights of people who are gay, lesbian, bi, queer, trans or gender non-conforming.
Pay equity, transparency, accountability and security in the work place, including access to affordable child care, sick days, health care, paid family leave, and healthy work environments. In addition, the right to organized labor.
Establishing an Equal Rights Amendment to protect civil rights, including voting rights, freedom to worship, freedom of speech, and protections for all citizens regardless of race, gender, age or disability.
Breaking barriers to access for people with disabilities.
Broader immigrant and refugee rights, regardless of status or nation of origin.
Environmental protection of the air, water and public lands.
The event's partners include the NAACP, Planned Parenthood, the League of Women Voters and MoveOn.org. To see a full list of partners, go to https://www.womensmarch.com/partners/.
In this October 2016 file photo, Katy Perry meets with supporters at a rally in support of Hillary Clinton, in Las Vegas. Hollywood will be turning out in force for the women's march on Washington set to follow Donald Trump's inauguration. Actress America Ferrera will chair the march's "artist table," organizers said Monday, Jan. 9, 2017. Other notables who plan to participate include, Amy Schumer, Scarlett Johansson, Cher, Julianne Moore and Frances McDormand. (AP Photo/John Locher, File) (Photo: John Locher, AP)
A list of speakers has yet to be released, though it has drawn plenty of celebrity interest. Actress America Ferrera tweeted that she will be there, as has singer Katy Perry. Other celebrities who've been reported to be attending the march include Cher, Amy Schumer, Scarlett Johansson, Julianne Moore and Frances McDormand.​
Q: When and where is the march taking place?
A: The event begins with a rally at 10 a.m. Saturday at the intersection of Independence Avenue and Third Street Southwest in Washington, D.C. The rally is to feature nationally known advocates, artists, entertainers, entrepreneurs and thought leaders, and continues until 1:15 p.m. A 1.5-mile march will begin after the rally. The Metro system will open two hours early Saturday to accommodate marchers. Service starts at 5 a.m.
Q: Is there a place for Michigan marchers to meet?
A: Starting at 8 a.m., Michigan marchers are meeting at Hancock Park, at Seventh Street Southwest and C Street Southwest. (The closest Metro stop is L'Enfant Plaza.) The Michigan contingent will head to the starting point by 10 a.m.
Q: What's the march route?
A: The march route has yet to be announced, though it will be about 1.5 miles long.
Most buses are dropping off marchers at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium, which is about 2.7 miles away from the starting point. Participants are advised to walk to the starting point, or take the Metro.
Michigan buses sell out on routes to women's march, inauguration
Q: Do I need a ticket to attend the march?
A: No. The event is free and open to the public. Although you don't need a ticket, organizers urge participants to register online to help them estimate crowd totals. To do so, click here or go to http://bit.ly/2j9AESb.
Q: Will the event be safe?
A: March organizers say that in addition to city agencies and police, they have hired a private security firm and will have more than 1,000 trained marshals working to ensure safety and security.
Plans are for a nonviolent march, however legal observer volunteers are being recruited, and a legal hotline is being established, organizers say.
Pussyhat Project has hot pink yarn flying off Michigan shelves
Q: Will there be special access for people with disabilities?
A: Yes. Spaces will be reserved for people with special needs, including pregnant women. ASL interpreters will be on hand. Portable toilets and medical tents will be set up along the route.
The ADA-accessible route is Fourth Street Southwest from C Street to Independence Avenue. Anyone using the Metro is advised to get off at Federal Center Southwest and use Fourth Street to enter the rally area. More details are available on the Women's March's accessibility page.
Q: I can't make it to Washington. Can I still participate in another way?
A: Sister marches are planned in cities around the world. Here's a list of some of the events planned in Michigan. For a complete list, go to: https://www.womensmarch.com/sisters
Ann Arbor: Participants are to begin gathering at 1:30 p.m. outside the federal building at the corner of Fifth and Liberty. The march is to start at 2 p.m., ending at the University of Michigan Diag with a 3 p.m. rally.
Detroit: The march is to start at 10 a.m. on the Wayne State Campus. It will begin in front of the Undergraduate Library, 5150 Anthony Wayne Drive. The march concludes with an 11 a.m. GO-GIRL winter program in the College of Education, 5425 Gullen Mall.
Grand Rapids: Fountain Street Church, 24 Fountain St NE, plans to live-stream coverage of the march in its sanctuary and social hall. Planned Parenthood, the Progressive Women's Alliance and Justice For Our Neighbors are among the organizations attending the event.
Lansing: A rally is to start at 1 p.m. on the steps of the state Capitol, 101 N. Capitol Ave., followed by the Women Organize Michigan Summit at 3 p.m. For a list of speakers and more march details, go to: https://www.marchonlansing.org/. To register for the Women Organize Michigan Summit, go to http://bit.ly/2ilOxrU.
Marquette: A march is to begin at 10 a.m. at the Marquette post office, 202 W. Washington St. No. 1. To register, go to: http://bit.ly/2jBvnyY.
Midland: Marchers plan to meet at 3 p.m. on the sidewalk in front of Huntington Bank, 1000 S. Saginaw Road. For more details, go to http://bit.ly/2jcWLHk.
Traverse City: Marchers are to gather at noon in the parking area by the Chamber of Commerce at Cass Street and Grandview Parkway. The march is to wrap up at at 1:45 p.m. at Workshop Brewery, 221 Garland St., where participants are to meet for a political peaceful gathering.
Read or Share this story: http://on.freep.com/2k1hdYk