Thousands rally for rights at Connecticut Women’s March

Jan. 20--The Connecticut Women's March drew nearly 3,000 people to the state Capitol on Saturday, rallying to expand the rights of women while vowing continued resistance to the Trump administration, which marchers condemned as an obstacle.

The spirited rally of mostly women marked the third year of a movement born in an almost spontaneous reaction to the election of President Donald J. Trump. After the election, 10,000 people flooded the Capitol grounds for a first rally. Capitol Police estimated that 2,500 to 3,000 arrived Saturday to listen to hours of speeches in bitter cold and under a threat of stormy weather.

There was a sea of signs promoting a varied and progressive feminist agenda. One sign carrier offered to donate organs for aging, infirm and liberal U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who many view as a solid vote for women's issues. But scores of signs condemned Trump in particular and Republicans in general. "No More Lies From America's Treasonous Orange Menace," one sign read. Another equated the GOP to "Groping Old Perverts."

"We came here to be part of a growing movement and to be among people who support women's issues," said Vanessa Gonzalez of Newington, who arrived with her daughter and carried a sign that said "Riot not Diet."

Her friend, Lydia Norton of Groton, said, "I think our message has been getting lost among all the stuff that has been going on lately, the glaring offenses that have been coming out of the White House."

"I'm here to protect what rights we have," said Cathy McElroy, who carpooled to Hartford with a group of women from a variety of Fairfield County towns. "I have daughters. I want them to be leaders and to be able to take action."

Kristin Lapinski, a union electrician who arrived with the Fairfield group, said, "I'm here to support women who work in the trades."

The march stepped off at the Corning Fountain in Bushnell Park and wound its way up the hill to the Capitol's north portico for speeches from advocates for immigrant rights, disability rights, workers' rights, civil rights, gay and transgender rights, reproductive rights, environmental justice and ending violence.

Speakers included Kristin Song, who became an advocate for changes to the state's gun storage law after her youngest son, Ethan, was shot and killed by an unsecured firearm; Rabbi Andi Fliegel of Congregation Beth Israel in West Hartford; Alicia Hernandez Strong, an Afro-Puerto Rican political activist; Sheryan Cancel, Latinx services coordinator of the Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence; Shellye Davis, co-president of the Hartford Federation of Paraprofessionals; and Kathy Flaherty, a disability rights lawyer.

Nyema Pinkney, a disability rights advocate who lost her sight 12 years ago, drew a roar from the crowd when she opened her remarks by saying, "Hello. My name is Nyema Pinkney and I have a disability and I am no different than anyone here."

There was no discussion of the allegations of anti-Semitism that divided the national Women's March group after one of its leaders refused to vigorously disavow remarks offensive to Jews by Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan.

But Fliegel, in her remarks, described early support for women's right by Jewish women and called for an end to anti-Semitic hatred. And earlier in the week, Women's March Connecticut, in a statement, "unequivocally [denounced] all forms of bigotry from any source" and specifically criticized Louis Farrakhan, the Nation of Islam leader who has ties to several of the national Women's March leaders.

"We absolutely condemn the words of Minister Louis Farrakhan and acknowledge that he is perpetuating hate speech against Jewish people and the LGBTQIA+ community," the Connecticut group said. "There is no way we can support hate speech and maintain our values. We will continue to support women of all religions, ethnicities and creeds and a part of that means admonishing those who use hateful language."

March organizers said Gov. Ned Lamont, Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes and U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal were in attendance. None of them spoke in accordance with what the group called its decision to forego political speech-making and most seemed largely invisible. Blumenthal, whose name drew cheers, could be seen briefly, shaking hands along one of the rope lines.

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