Challenge and celebration as thousands mark Charlotte’s third women’s march
The event, an offspring of the worldwide women's march that emerged the day after
"Guess what? I won," Harden said to cheers. "I was one woman that was part of a huge wave."
The 2018 campaign saw record numbers of women mobilize as volunteers, candidates and ultimately elected officials, the Observer has reported. But several speakers at Saturday's two-hour rally said getting women elected or dealing with traditional women's issues is too narrow a focus.
Le and other speakers challenged the group to go beyond rallying for mainstream issues and start working with groups they may see as, in Le's words, "too aggressive."
"Will we -- will you -- show up at marches that push you beyond your own comfort?" Le asked. "Will you do work for the collective without having to be acknowledged for it?"
Johnson said trans and non-binary women of color are bailing people out of jail, resisting immigration officials and standing up against Palestinian oppression while many at the rally are on the sidelines. She challenged participants to show up in February for the trial of
"What will you do?" Johnson asked. "Fighting for women's rights is so much more than attending a march once a year."
It's a far cry from
Saturday's march was smaller.
In 2017 and 2018, Charlotte's marches coincided with similar events around the world. This year it came a week after the "women's wave" events in
Charlotte's Women United March has a new sponsor, with the Queen City chapter of the
Few of the Charlotte signs focused on Trump, and even fewer bore his image. The "pussy hats," which some have decried as symbols of shallow white feminism, were less visible in 2019.
Local organizers hope to avoid the rifts that have roiled the national movement, where one organizer's ties to
"We are in the throes of a women's movement, and some people would love to see us fail," Meier said.
The two organizers asked the group to "make some noise" if they support quality education for all children, access to health care, the value of immigrants, the right to love who you want, an end to gerrymandering and equal pay for equal work.
They got hearty cheers each time.
"Today we hope that you will listen to and learn from the diversity of perspectives," Hill said. "We hope you will march with others who have shared principles, even if we do not always agree."
The event brought a mix of veterans and newcomers -- including a group of UNC Charlotte students who came for the first time and some teens from
"We are the next generation to come out and vote," 17-year-old
"We are one race, the mixed race, and we are going to prevail," Peña said.
She and two friends from Action NC, all of them
"We're here to fight for all women," McCullers said.
"They're trying to push women back to the Stone Age," said
There was plenty of socializing and picture-taking among the crowd, but speakers stressed the seriousness of the work ahead.
"You need to visualize your promised land, name it and work toward it," said Rabbi
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