THIS AFTERNOON, DONALD Trump will be sworn in as the 45th President of the United States.
Tomorrow, hundreds of thousands are expected to descend on Washington DC to take part in the Women’s March, a protest march that was organised to send a signal to the Trump administration that “women’s rights are human rights”.
We stand together, recognizing that defending the most marginalized among us is defending all of us.
The event will feature speeches from feminist leaders, civil rights activists and LGBT activists. Speakers expected to address the march include Gloria Steinem, Scarlett Johansson, America Ferrera and Michael Moore.
Many celebrities have thrown their weight behind the march, including Beyonce, Katy Perry, Cher, Amy Schumer, Julianne Moore, Patricia Arquette, Olivia Wilde and more.
But women won’t just be marching in Washington DC. As of writing, there are an estimated 616 sister marches due to take place all over the world, including three in Ireland.
Women’s March Ireland has organised two marches to take place in Dublin and Galway tomorrow afternoon. Additionally, there’s a rally called Bridges Not Walls due to take place in Castlebar.
The main effort is being coordinated by four American women residing in Ireland. The march in Galway has been organised by Fanya O’Donoghue, who has been living in Co. Clare since 2013 with her family, and Laurien Irwin Avery, who moved to Ireland last year.
Meanwhile, the co-organisers of the Dublin march are Dina Coughlan, who moved to Ireland in 2014 with her family, and Christina Wade, who came to Ireland in 2011.
They told DailyEdge.ie that they are “marching in support and solidarity for equal rights for all people everywhere”.
The march is a direct response to the divisive rhetoric that marked the recent election and the organisers explained that it’s intended to support not only women, but all marginalised groups.
The march and the ethos behind the march are bigger than opposing one politician. The rhetoric during the last election was threatening and insulting to so many groups, it left us feeling powerless and afraid, an ocean away from our families, our friends, from the people in our country we wanted to help.
How could we meaningfully contribute to supporting marginalized groups? How could we become activists or continue our activism from abroad? The march and its message of inclusiveness — “Gender Justice is Racial Justice is Social Justice” — was an amazing way of being able to offer our solidarity from Ireland because it captured the variety of approaches and a diversity of experiences.
The marches in Ireland have the support of Irish organisations like the Abortion Rights Campaign, Amnesty International, Coalition to Repeal The 8th, European Network Against Racism and R.O.S.A.
Organisers are encouraging “people of all genders, races, ages, abilities, political affilitations and backgrounds” to attend tomorrow and “speak out for equality, rights and justice for all people”.
People should expect a positive and uplifting vibe. We are marching for the values of human decency, equal rights, and freedom from discrimination
Fancy heading along?
The Dublin march leaves from the Garden of Remembrance at noon tomorrow while the Galway march will start at 2pm in Eyre Square. The Castlebar rally will take place at 3pm in Market Square.
