Thousands of people gathered in protest marches for women’s rights around the world on 19th January 2019. For the third time, the Women’s March took place in Washington, London, Berlin, Rome and many other cities around the world. We asked Kara Wuest from Global Fund for Women a few questions about the Women’s March:
What were the outcomes of the first Women’s March?
The first Women’s March in January 2017 was a direct response to Donald Trump’s inauguration, and the gathering in Washington DC wound up being the largest one-day protest in US history. It was a time to bring all people together who wanted to speak out about women’s rights, racial equality, and LGBTQ freedom. The second Women’s March in January 2018 captured the messages of #MeToo and the urgency of the upcoming mid-term elections in the United States – a call to action that helped get the largest amount of women to the US Congress than ever before.
What is this Women’s March about?
In the Bay Area, the themes were „Truth to Power“ and „Women’s Wave.“ Our CEO and President Musimbi Kanyoro spoke at the San Francisco march about the global connections of women’s movements and the need to move forward together in solidarity.
What are your hopes for this Women’s March?
We hope that it was an opportunity for everyone who supports women’s human rights to gather together and experience the energy and excitement of grassroots organizing – all the more needed as we enter the third year of this administration. We have to find sustenance with each other to continue onward! As Dr. Kanyoro said, “We will invest our time and talent and our treasures in supporting justice…At Global Fund for Women, we build movements not walls! We are going to walk to build a human rights movement.”
How does Global Fund for Women see the Women’s March?
The Women’s March is an important event that amplifies the work of women’s movements around the world. It’s a critical event to bring together the many, many different issues and efforts that make up our movement work. We support the organizing of the Women’s March on a global and local level.
Thank you!