MN Women’s March draws crowd to State Capitol

Jan. 19--Braving single-digit temperatures, a crowd estimated in the thousands rallied at the Minnesota State Capitol on Saturday -- one of a number of women's marches held across the country.

They waived signs in support of everything from abortion rights to immigrants and refugees as they marched from Western Sculpture Park in St. Paul to the Capitol. There were cheers and chants for women's rights and gay rights, and talk of a renewed push for an Equal Rights Amendment at the Legislature.

St. Paul police estimated about 4,000 attended the march at its peak.

The Minnesota march was one of dozens held across the nation. The original march, held the day after Trump was inaugurated in 2017, drew hundreds of thousands of people in Washington D.C. and an estimated 90,000-100,000 in Minnesota.

The 2019 march comes at a time of turmoil for the national movement. In November, one of the founders of the Women's March accused the organization's four main leaders of anti-Semitism.

Organizers of the Minnesota Women's March have said they are re-evaluating ties to the national organization. Women's March Minnesota launched as a separate nonprofit with its own board and leadership.

Many who attended the Minnesota march on Saturday said they were concerned about the direction the country is headed.

SUPPORTING IMMIGRANT CHILDREN

St. Paul resident Katy Lowery said the immigration policies of President Donald Trump's administration compelled her to march. She also attended the first Women's March in 2016.

"I would say the most immediately compelling issues for me are losing immigrant children and separating them from their parents, and the (global) climate," Lowery said.

Amy Youel of Edina also opposed the practice of separating immigrant families at the U.S.-Mexico border, calling it "government-sanctioned kidnapping."

"I have a heart for people who are just trying to make a better life for themselves in this country that's supposed to stand for the American dream," said Youel, who fashioned a cardboard cutout resembling Trump.

ABORTION RIGHTS

Kate Havelin of St. Paul carried a sign in support of abortion rights. This was her first women's march in Minnesota; she marched in Washington D.C. in 2016 and in Los Angeles in 2017.

Havelin said she had an abortion when she was 40 years old, and that all women should have the right to a "safe, legal procedure."

"A liberty like abortion is really essential," she said.

STANDING IN SOLIDARITY

Saturday's Women's March was the first for Minneapolis resident Phil Deering.

He said he showed up to support women and voice concerns about Trump, whom he feels has pitted people against each other.

"I'm here to show solidarity with this march which is very much about uniting many different sectors," Deering said.

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