Women's March 2018. It's on. 1/20/2018. Planet EARTH.
December 19, 2017 5:25 AM Subscribe
Be there. Raleigh, Vegas, Bay area, Chicago, LA, Sacramento, and more coming online.
The Mother Site has yet to update.
The Seattle page of last year's March seems to be doing something on the 21st that is more like a teach in. The Facebook link is not from last year's March group. Hmm.
posted by k8t at 5:39 AM on December 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by k8t at 5:39 AM on December 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
I think they all just went live in the last 24 hours or so. Chicago's url still says 121 too.
posted by yoga at 5:40 AM on December 19, 2017
posted by yoga at 5:40 AM on December 19, 2017
I wonder if it will be with the pink pussy hats again?
pink's not really my color and I might rather wear a pointy black witch's hat
posted by dilettante at 5:52 AM on December 19, 2017 [10 favorites]
pink's not really my color and I might rather wear a pointy black witch's hat
posted by dilettante at 5:52 AM on December 19, 2017 [10 favorites]
Cathy O’Neil (mathbabe.org) found out about it a couple weeks ago because of a run on yarn at her local shop.
posted by wotsac at 6:08 AM on December 19, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by wotsac at 6:08 AM on December 19, 2017 [6 favorites]
Awesome link, wotsac. Here's a link from yours that lists locations & times, as well as a Sister March list on Women's Alliance FB link.
Last night I was in about as dark a place as I've ever been, thinking about 2017 and the assholery with the tax scam. This has brightened my mood. And everyone coming in to post a new link makes me so happy. We need this. The world needs this.
Also, anyone who can make me a non-itchy pussy hat I'd be happy to pay you, MeMail me por favor!
posted by yoga at 6:19 AM on December 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
Last night I was in about as dark a place as I've ever been, thinking about 2017 and the assholery with the tax scam. This has brightened my mood. And everyone coming in to post a new link makes me so happy. We need this. The world needs this.
Also, anyone who can make me a non-itchy pussy hat I'd be happy to pay you, MeMail me por favor!
posted by yoga at 6:19 AM on December 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
London doesn't seem to be up? It's still referring to 2017.
posted by like_neon at 6:20 AM on December 19, 2017
posted by like_neon at 6:20 AM on December 19, 2017
I've also seen notices of an impeachment march on Jan. 20.
posted by mefireader at 6:24 AM on December 19, 2017
posted by mefireader at 6:24 AM on December 19, 2017
The London site still has a banner about remembering to vote in June 2017, and the most recent thing they reference is September 2017.
posted by Dysk at 6:31 AM on December 19, 2017
posted by Dysk at 6:31 AM on December 19, 2017
NYC (Website, Facebook event)
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 6:57 AM on December 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 6:57 AM on December 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
They're listing a Boston march that I recognize from seeing on FB. It's sponsored by the New England Independence Campaign, which advocates peaceable secession, and that is ... not the headspace I am thinking is right for this march. Also it's on Cambridge Common, which is a fine and historical place but not central and iconic like Boston Common. I have a weird feeling about going to this. Opinions ... ?
posted by Countess Elena at 7:38 AM on December 19, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by Countess Elena at 7:38 AM on December 19, 2017 [5 favorites]
(I mean I don't need to agree with every tenet of a sponsor for a big-tent march, but I'm related to enough secessionists as it is)
posted by Countess Elena at 7:41 AM on December 19, 2017
posted by Countess Elena at 7:41 AM on December 19, 2017
DFW is theoretically on, but I don't have a facebook login any more, and they seem to be doing all of the organizing there, atm. Hopefully, they'll broadcast it somewhere else, or I'll have a friend get me the details like when and where. But, I'll be there, wagging my cane, and wearing my AWESOME hat made by our very own Quietgal.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 8:02 AM on December 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 8:02 AM on December 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
Yoga, I have five pussy hats with more to be made. If you make an extravagant donation to planned parenthood and/or a GOTV org, I’ll send you a hat!
I’m happy to teach folks in NYC to knit them, I can have you set up in literally an hour if you can tie your own shoes. I’d make some requests about bringing materials and maybe buying me a coffee because I don’t have a job. But if you also don’t have a job you can come over and we can drink tea on the couch while we knit.
Brb, going to go post another IRL event.
posted by bilabial at 8:06 AM on December 19, 2017 [6 favorites]
I’m happy to teach folks in NYC to knit them, I can have you set up in literally an hour if you can tie your own shoes. I’d make some requests about bringing materials and maybe buying me a coffee because I don’t have a job. But if you also don’t have a job you can come over and we can drink tea on the couch while we knit.
Brb, going to go post another IRL event.
posted by bilabial at 8:06 AM on December 19, 2017 [6 favorites]
Thanks bilabial! Drinking tea on your couch sounds fun regardless. I took up another MeFi person on their offer, but if my partner decides she wants one we'll come a knockin!
posted by yoga at 8:27 AM on December 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by yoga at 8:27 AM on December 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
I would love a second Women's March but it's weird the official Twitter hasn't updated.
posted by asteria at 8:31 AM on December 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by asteria at 8:31 AM on December 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
I'm going to the one in Winston-Salem, NC. I went to the one in Raleigh last January. I knit or crocheted 9 pussy hats last year, and gave most away, one on the spot at the march as I finished knitting it. I guess I'll get out my leftover pink yarn and start making more hats.
And on a non-hat-related note, fuck this administration and everyone in it. Impeach them all, including Congress. The GOP has, at long last, no shame, and the DNC ain't far behind. I suddenly relate to the old motto, "Kill 'em all, let God sort 'em out."
posted by corvikate at 8:32 AM on December 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
And on a non-hat-related note, fuck this administration and everyone in it. Impeach them all, including Congress. The GOP has, at long last, no shame, and the DNC ain't far behind. I suddenly relate to the old motto, "Kill 'em all, let God sort 'em out."
posted by corvikate at 8:32 AM on December 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
I wonder if they are going to address the criticism they received from Black women over the last march.
posted by AFABulous at 8:41 AM on December 19, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by AFABulous at 8:41 AM on December 19, 2017 [9 favorites]
I'm willing to make pussy hats again (still have at least one left around the house) if anyone wants to message me.
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:51 AM on December 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:51 AM on December 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
Knoxville (sorry, FB link).
If you can get to one of these marches, I recommend you do. I went to the Big March in DC last year. It was incredibly good for my mental health to be surrounded by a big crowd of people who could see the emperor with no clothes.
posted by workerant at 9:48 AM on December 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
If you can get to one of these marches, I recommend you do. I went to the Big March in DC last year. It was incredibly good for my mental health to be surrounded by a big crowd of people who could see the emperor with no clothes.
posted by workerant at 9:48 AM on December 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
They're listing a Boston march that I recognize from seeing on FB.
Enough people caught on that the NEIC stepped down as the sponsor, so that's good, at least. I think that one made the unaffiliated list of links because of the name.
posted by Ruki at 10:04 AM on December 19, 2017
Enough people caught on that the NEIC stepped down as the sponsor, so that's good, at least. I think that one made the unaffiliated list of links because of the name.
posted by Ruki at 10:04 AM on December 19, 2017
They have? That’s good then. They’re still listed as the organizers on the Facebook page. Possibly that’s a Facebook problem, but I’m not seeing where they stepped down. Twitter didn’t provide any answer, although I did see a tweet from one SteelDonkey who opined, “Very important NOT to have riot! Mooning is PEACEFUL free speech.“
posted by Countess Elena at 10:29 AM on December 19, 2017
posted by Countess Elena at 10:29 AM on December 19, 2017
Sacramento’s was a cluster-eff, for reasons AFABulous linked to. I certainly hope the organizers have learned from it. I’ll be thrilled to march at one with PoC organizers. Otherwise, maybe not.
posted by greermahoney at 10:31 AM on December 19, 2017
posted by greermahoney at 10:31 AM on December 19, 2017
What is this besides a social gathering? What did the first march accomplish? What did the March for Science accomplish? I'm neutral on the social gathering, but let's not pretend this is a helpful avenue for advocacy.
posted by quadrilaterals at 11:01 AM on December 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by quadrilaterals at 11:01 AM on December 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
Well, I don't know your family or social groups, but I personally have a family mostly comprised of Trump voters and am inclined to depression. Reading Metafilter politics threads or Twitter is nice enough when I want to be reminded I'm not alone, but words on the screen can only do so much. Being in a crowd of people who repudiate the president and what he stands for is a bulwark against despair and helps me keep up the energy for Postcards to Voters, calling my reps, etc.
If you don't need that, then, sincerely: good for you.
But enthusiasm and community aren't neutral if you lack them in your day-to-day life.
posted by rewil at 11:15 AM on December 19, 2017 [14 favorites]
If you don't need that, then, sincerely: good for you.
But enthusiasm and community aren't neutral if you lack them in your day-to-day life.
posted by rewil at 11:15 AM on December 19, 2017 [14 favorites]
quadrilaterals: it's for hope. Hope doesn't come from rational plans and budgets. It comes from solidarity and shouting.
I was at a Women's March last year, and it was like Christmas morning for an entire valley. Cars were literally being turned away at the exit to the city because so many people had come. The day before that, I had been flying all afternoon, which meant that I was trapped in an airport with nonstop CNN coverage of the inauguration -- the most aesthetically dystopian experience of my life. The Women's March gave me joy I didn't know would be possible again.
It is important that people understand that joy is possible. Hope is not frivolous or luxurious. We must see each other's faces. We must see each other.
posted by Countess Elena at 11:24 AM on December 19, 2017 [23 favorites]
I was at a Women's March last year, and it was like Christmas morning for an entire valley. Cars were literally being turned away at the exit to the city because so many people had come. The day before that, I had been flying all afternoon, which meant that I was trapped in an airport with nonstop CNN coverage of the inauguration -- the most aesthetically dystopian experience of my life. The Women's March gave me joy I didn't know would be possible again.
It is important that people understand that joy is possible. Hope is not frivolous or luxurious. We must see each other's faces. We must see each other.
posted by Countess Elena at 11:24 AM on December 19, 2017 [23 favorites]
But enthusiasm and community aren't neutral if you lack them in your day-to-day life.
That's a great point. I just am so often frustrated that, in trying to do the work on the ground, I run in to people who are very happy to show up at these big events, but are not doing the hard-grinding work that we have to do, day-in, day-out. I apologize that my frustration with them is spilling out here, and don't want to at all imply that dancing at the revolution is not worth doing.
posted by quadrilaterals at 11:27 AM on December 19, 2017 [4 favorites]
That's a great point. I just am so often frustrated that, in trying to do the work on the ground, I run in to people who are very happy to show up at these big events, but are not doing the hard-grinding work that we have to do, day-in, day-out. I apologize that my frustration with them is spilling out here, and don't want to at all imply that dancing at the revolution is not worth doing.
posted by quadrilaterals at 11:27 AM on December 19, 2017 [4 favorites]
quadrilaterals, Emily's List reports more than 22,000 women reaching out to them for help running for office this year, up from 920 women in the last two years combined (according to publicentity.org). The surge started after the Women's March last year, and Emily's List specifically names the March in different places as a major turning point that started this new wave. A 2000%-plus increase in women running for office at all levels is a pretty helpful avenue for advocacy.
posted by current resident at 11:31 AM on December 19, 2017 [19 favorites]
posted by current resident at 11:31 AM on December 19, 2017 [19 favorites]
What is this besides a social gathering? What did the first march accomplish? What did the March for Science accomplish? I'm neutral on the social gathering, but let's not pretend this is a helpful avenue for advocacy.
What is this comment besides the whine of a troll? What does this comment accomplish?
My response in case you weren't just trying to be dismissive or offensive: The marches were massive, visual proof how people around the country and the world felt and believed. They gave us hope. And it demonstrated that protests can happen without eruptions of violence. Did you see the photos? Speaking for myself, this year would have felt starkly different without seeing the community come out and voice support for all sorts of causes. Since the election, I'd been wondering if I could trust anyone in this country anymore. The marches answered YES. If you don't need them, fine, but let the rest of us have them.
posted by Sockin'inthefreeworld at 11:33 AM on December 19, 2017 [17 favorites]
What is this comment besides the whine of a troll? What does this comment accomplish?
My response in case you weren't just trying to be dismissive or offensive: The marches were massive, visual proof how people around the country and the world felt and believed. They gave us hope. And it demonstrated that protests can happen without eruptions of violence. Did you see the photos? Speaking for myself, this year would have felt starkly different without seeing the community come out and voice support for all sorts of causes. Since the election, I'd been wondering if I could trust anyone in this country anymore. The marches answered YES. If you don't need them, fine, but let the rest of us have them.
posted by Sockin'inthefreeworld at 11:33 AM on December 19, 2017 [17 favorites]
Protests and marches are different things IMO. Protests are for other people. They are disruptive and draw attention to an issue (with ensuing controversy). Marches are mostly for the marchers. They make connections, reinforce solidarity, and energize each other to take further action when they go home.
Both are needed and equally valid but no, they don't change the policy. They get media coverage of the policy and that is what can persuade non-attendees to call their reps, vote, write letters or whatever. How many straight people would have known or cared that AIDS was decimating the gay community if it weren't for groups like ACT UP, who disrupted government meetings, press conferences, traffic, church services, etc.? They laid a path for straight people to support people with AIDS (e.g. celebrities wearing red ribbons to the Oscars). That led legislators to fund research and prevention efforts (too late for too many, but not the point here).
So ACT UP was a protest. Stonewall was a protest. Pride is a march. It's not for YOU (cis heteros). It's for the LGBT community, to express solidarity (such as it is, but that's also not the point here). Without Pride marches I wouldn't have had the energy and knowledge to advocate for myself and others.
Anyway I'm not a woman so I'm not going to say anything about this march in particular but that's how protests and marches differ (IMO) and how they both get results.
posted by AFABulous at 11:35 AM on December 19, 2017 [11 favorites]
Both are needed and equally valid but no, they don't change the policy. They get media coverage of the policy and that is what can persuade non-attendees to call their reps, vote, write letters or whatever. How many straight people would have known or cared that AIDS was decimating the gay community if it weren't for groups like ACT UP, who disrupted government meetings, press conferences, traffic, church services, etc.? They laid a path for straight people to support people with AIDS (e.g. celebrities wearing red ribbons to the Oscars). That led legislators to fund research and prevention efforts (too late for too many, but not the point here).
So ACT UP was a protest. Stonewall was a protest. Pride is a march. It's not for YOU (cis heteros). It's for the LGBT community, to express solidarity (such as it is, but that's also not the point here). Without Pride marches I wouldn't have had the energy and knowledge to advocate for myself and others.
Anyway I'm not a woman so I'm not going to say anything about this march in particular but that's how protests and marches differ (IMO) and how they both get results.
posted by AFABulous at 11:35 AM on December 19, 2017 [11 favorites]
Pride is absolutely protest to a lot of us (and that's why attempts to turn it into a party piss us off).
posted by Dysk at 11:45 AM on December 19, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by Dysk at 11:45 AM on December 19, 2017 [8 favorites]
Without the Women's March would the protests against the Muslim Ban have happened?
posted by asteria at 12:18 PM on December 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by asteria at 12:18 PM on December 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
ACT UP was a protest. Stonewall was a protest. Pride is a march.
I've been describing the difference as "outreach march" vs "solidarity march." There's pretty much always some measure of protest involved; the difference is whether the focus is on persuading people who aren't convinced the cause is worthwhile, or finding and informing the ones who believe it is.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 2:44 PM on December 19, 2017
I've been describing the difference as "outreach march" vs "solidarity march." There's pretty much always some measure of protest involved; the difference is whether the focus is on persuading people who aren't convinced the cause is worthwhile, or finding and informing the ones who believe it is.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 2:44 PM on December 19, 2017
Pride to me has always been more of a "fuck you" march than either of those. It's not about solidarity or outreach, it's about spitting in the bigots' eye.
posted by Dysk at 2:46 PM on December 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Dysk at 2:46 PM on December 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
I tend to put "fuck-you march" under solidarity - getting enough people in one place and time to shout "we're here; we're queer; get used to it" that it can't be drowned out or easily arrested for annoying local businesses.
The shift away from that, to more outreach focus, is more than troubling. On the one hand, it's nice to see straight families with kids; that implies that the message has gotten out that LGBTQ people aren't out to destroy families. On the other, I'm really, really unhappy with the constant message of "could you just... tone that down a bit?" aimed at whatever group is getting the side-eye from mainstream media this year.
For me, the party aspects are fine; I don't want them to be combined with "...and that means the crowd that's still angry is doing it wrong." They're not; there's still plenty to be angry about even if there are victories worth celebrating.
I'd love to see the Women's March go annual. I wouldn't want it to cave into pressure to "be more respectable" (which I'd assume means "less shouty; fewer obscenities on posters") or to start picking and choosing which categories of women's messages are acceptable.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 2:57 PM on December 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
The shift away from that, to more outreach focus, is more than troubling. On the one hand, it's nice to see straight families with kids; that implies that the message has gotten out that LGBTQ people aren't out to destroy families. On the other, I'm really, really unhappy with the constant message of "could you just... tone that down a bit?" aimed at whatever group is getting the side-eye from mainstream media this year.
For me, the party aspects are fine; I don't want them to be combined with "...and that means the crowd that's still angry is doing it wrong." They're not; there's still plenty to be angry about even if there are victories worth celebrating.
I'd love to see the Women's March go annual. I wouldn't want it to cave into pressure to "be more respectable" (which I'd assume means "less shouty; fewer obscenities on posters") or to start picking and choosing which categories of women's messages are acceptable.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 2:57 PM on December 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
Just booked a hotel room to go to the one in NYC!
posted by banjo_and_the_pork at 3:53 PM on December 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by banjo_and_the_pork at 3:53 PM on December 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
They have? That’s good then. They’re still listed as the organizers on the Facebook page.
Ugh, just searched for the event. The Cambridge one is a new one. NEIC formerly had one scheduled in Boston, which they stepped down from, but it appears that one has been deleted. But that answers the Cambridge instead of Boston question. Sneaky fuckers.
posted by Ruki at 4:03 PM on December 19, 2017
Ugh, just searched for the event. The Cambridge one is a new one. NEIC formerly had one scheduled in Boston, which they stepped down from, but it appears that one has been deleted. But that answers the Cambridge instead of Boston question. Sneaky fuckers.
posted by Ruki at 4:03 PM on December 19, 2017
Should a percentage of the hats be a new color so that media cannot say that the turnout pictures were from last year?
posted by Monkey0nCrack at 4:21 PM on December 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Monkey0nCrack at 4:21 PM on December 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
San Diego's in (sorry, Facebook link); two hours ago the page updated to announce Sklyer McCurine as MC.
posted by Iris Gambol at 4:24 PM on December 19, 2017
posted by Iris Gambol at 4:24 PM on December 19, 2017
I'd love to see the Women's March go annual. I wouldn't want it to cave into pressure to "be more respectable"
gosh, how could it even be more respectable, I heard even the police were nice
posted by AFABulous at 5:37 PM on December 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
gosh, how could it even be more respectable, I heard even the police were nice
posted by AFABulous at 5:37 PM on December 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
Here's the Seattle March, sanctioned by the group from last year.
posted by k8t at 6:28 PM on December 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by k8t at 6:28 PM on December 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'm so there for Seattle. I was thankfully there for the last one, kind of at the last minute since I have to travel like 4-5 hours to get there and it was easily one of the most profound and empowering experiences in my life.
And I wish a lot more men (and maybe even some women) could understand this, and it's really difficult to describe.
Forgive me, I'm a little sleep deprived.
I don't mean to defang or deflect any of the totally justified anger about everything from sexism to violence with the following descriptions and prose, because I'm trying to put this into terms that maybe even fully misogynistic dudebros could understand.
None of these descriptives are negatives. They definitely don't represent all women, but I'm trying to paint a picture of the feeling of the march in Seattle.
For me it at Seattle it was... walking out the door of my best friend's home with my gently pissed off friends and moms, and finding that basically every other pissed off woman and mom and grandma in the neighborhood and most of their husbands and then much of the city was walking out into the streets at the same time to tell it like it really is (again, and again) - but also remind everyone, everyone everywhere, that while they're super pissed off and worried they also mean well, more than anything.
Like the "we're fucking pissed off and sick of all this bullshit" part always had this unspoken undercurrent of "because we fucking care, you jerks" and even "look both ways before crossing the street, stay in school, eat your vegetables, brush your teeth, fall in love with someone nice and I love you."
But also... fun. A lot of fun and high spirits and expression and joy...
I have never felt this much palpable love and care at any kind of random group of people. Especially not a group of people so righteously pissed off. It was overwhelming and really quite terrifying, really.
And as entire families walked towards the park to assemble there was just this overwhelmingly safe, nurturing presence and civility that I've never seen or felt at any other protest or march or mass assembly of any kind, anywhere.
There were entire families and toddlers and teenagers. Strollers and kids everywhere along with everyone else. It was families marching.
As the sidewalks grew crowded to the point of overflowing it was ever so careful, aware, safe. People directing traffic and other people, people waiting in families and neighborhood groups to move safely. Gentle. Smart. Stern. Patient. Strong. Wise. But, y'know, still really pissed off and ready to do things about it.
It's difficult to describe this atmosphere without cliches or currently feminine words like nurturing or simply "mom" or "mother presence" that was there underpinning all of the real anger and energy and justifiable outrage and everything else. I swear, I'm not trying to wax mystical.
But the most recent successful, even peaceful, non-violent revolutions that I know of are led or sparked by justifiably angry women. Rosa Parks. Emmeline Pankhurst, Christabel Pankhurst and Annie Kinney. The French Revolution. Even the Stonewall Riots, really, in a spectrum.
Look, hey, I'm not actually as well versed as I would like to be about feminist, humanist and equalitarian texts and thought as I would like to be beyond my general instinct for chaotic good and hope for peace and the best of humanity, but the more I learn about women's struggles for equality and political justice and representation and even work for pay or the right not to have unwanted attention and this multiple thousands year old struggle between the sexes and with sexism...
...the more it looks like to me that this arc and thread through history is a major, major unrecognized part of the origin of democracy itself, and much of modern civilization and true equality is deeply, inexorably rooted in feminism, owes more to women than ever acknowledged or compensated for... ...and I'm running out of words.
Dudes? Bros?
Yeah, it's totally ok and good to be a guy, ok? But listen.
Listen to your mothers and grandmothers. Listen. When your mothers and sisters and friends are standing up and marching and building barricades or storming the Bastille or saying #metoo in the millions, it's time to listen and help and think about why they're so pissed off and tired of the unrelenting bullshit.
I wish more a lot more women were running for office and in control of things - for the first time basically ever.
I wish more men were standing up for women and offering "I have your back on this, let's march. Lead the way. I'm listening."
I wish more men understood that women have been carrying more than their fare share with just about everything from the risk or reality of childbirth to being to fighting against the status quo to be heard to being punished for choosing not to have children and dare to dabble in work or thought or creativity instead.
I'm so tired. I'm struggling with some stuff, too, and starting to get worn down.
But this brings me hope.
Ladies? And Gentleman? And everyone in between?
Do you give a shit? Please do stand up. Now, and onward.
I am so wholly there.
PS: If anyone is knitting/felting/sewing for mefites, I would very much like a pussy hat. I've wanted one since the first march. I have a big fat head and lots of hair. I like brims to keep the rain off my glasses. I live in a lot of rain, but not too cold, rarely freezing, and it'll be warmish then.
I still have a certain brown and white knit beanie knit by a certain infamous NYC mefite knitter from almost 5 years ago. Which I've nearly lost a dozen times, including losing it on a frozen, slushy Thanksgiving evening walking a friend home through urban Seattle after dinner and somehow thankfully finding it in the slush on an IRL and intentionally algorithmic drunkard's walk back to home.
I'm also interested in organically gifting a few hats if hyperactive overcrafters are so disposed to trust my well developed wandering and gifting skills. I saw people that wanted and needed hats last time, for sure.
posted by loquacious at 8:39 PM on December 19, 2017 [7 favorites]
And I wish a lot more men (and maybe even some women) could understand this, and it's really difficult to describe.
Forgive me, I'm a little sleep deprived.
I don't mean to defang or deflect any of the totally justified anger about everything from sexism to violence with the following descriptions and prose, because I'm trying to put this into terms that maybe even fully misogynistic dudebros could understand.
None of these descriptives are negatives. They definitely don't represent all women, but I'm trying to paint a picture of the feeling of the march in Seattle.
For me it at Seattle it was... walking out the door of my best friend's home with my gently pissed off friends and moms, and finding that basically every other pissed off woman and mom and grandma in the neighborhood and most of their husbands and then much of the city was walking out into the streets at the same time to tell it like it really is (again, and again) - but also remind everyone, everyone everywhere, that while they're super pissed off and worried they also mean well, more than anything.
Like the "we're fucking pissed off and sick of all this bullshit" part always had this unspoken undercurrent of "because we fucking care, you jerks" and even "look both ways before crossing the street, stay in school, eat your vegetables, brush your teeth, fall in love with someone nice and I love you."
But also... fun. A lot of fun and high spirits and expression and joy...
I have never felt this much palpable love and care at any kind of random group of people. Especially not a group of people so righteously pissed off. It was overwhelming and really quite terrifying, really.
And as entire families walked towards the park to assemble there was just this overwhelmingly safe, nurturing presence and civility that I've never seen or felt at any other protest or march or mass assembly of any kind, anywhere.
There were entire families and toddlers and teenagers. Strollers and kids everywhere along with everyone else. It was families marching.
As the sidewalks grew crowded to the point of overflowing it was ever so careful, aware, safe. People directing traffic and other people, people waiting in families and neighborhood groups to move safely. Gentle. Smart. Stern. Patient. Strong. Wise. But, y'know, still really pissed off and ready to do things about it.
It's difficult to describe this atmosphere without cliches or currently feminine words like nurturing or simply "mom" or "mother presence" that was there underpinning all of the real anger and energy and justifiable outrage and everything else. I swear, I'm not trying to wax mystical.
But the most recent successful, even peaceful, non-violent revolutions that I know of are led or sparked by justifiably angry women. Rosa Parks. Emmeline Pankhurst, Christabel Pankhurst and Annie Kinney. The French Revolution. Even the Stonewall Riots, really, in a spectrum.
Look, hey, I'm not actually as well versed as I would like to be about feminist, humanist and equalitarian texts and thought as I would like to be beyond my general instinct for chaotic good and hope for peace and the best of humanity, but the more I learn about women's struggles for equality and political justice and representation and even work for pay or the right not to have unwanted attention and this multiple thousands year old struggle between the sexes and with sexism...
...the more it looks like to me that this arc and thread through history is a major, major unrecognized part of the origin of democracy itself, and much of modern civilization and true equality is deeply, inexorably rooted in feminism, owes more to women than ever acknowledged or compensated for... ...and I'm running out of words.
Dudes? Bros?
Yeah, it's totally ok and good to be a guy, ok? But listen.
Listen to your mothers and grandmothers. Listen. When your mothers and sisters and friends are standing up and marching and building barricades or storming the Bastille or saying #metoo in the millions, it's time to listen and help and think about why they're so pissed off and tired of the unrelenting bullshit.
I wish more a lot more women were running for office and in control of things - for the first time basically ever.
I wish more men were standing up for women and offering "I have your back on this, let's march. Lead the way. I'm listening."
I wish more men understood that women have been carrying more than their fare share with just about everything from the risk or reality of childbirth to being to fighting against the status quo to be heard to being punished for choosing not to have children and dare to dabble in work or thought or creativity instead.
I'm so tired. I'm struggling with some stuff, too, and starting to get worn down.
But this brings me hope.
Ladies? And Gentleman? And everyone in between?
Do you give a shit? Please do stand up. Now, and onward.
I am so wholly there.
PS: If anyone is knitting/felting/sewing for mefites, I would very much like a pussy hat. I've wanted one since the first march. I have a big fat head and lots of hair. I like brims to keep the rain off my glasses. I live in a lot of rain, but not too cold, rarely freezing, and it'll be warmish then.
I still have a certain brown and white knit beanie knit by a certain infamous NYC mefite knitter from almost 5 years ago. Which I've nearly lost a dozen times, including losing it on a frozen, slushy Thanksgiving evening walking a friend home through urban Seattle after dinner and somehow thankfully finding it in the slush on an IRL and intentionally algorithmic drunkard's walk back to home.
I'm also interested in organically gifting a few hats if hyperactive overcrafters are so disposed to trust my well developed wandering and gifting skills. I saw people that wanted and needed hats last time, for sure.
posted by loquacious at 8:39 PM on December 19, 2017 [7 favorites]
Without the Women's March would the protests against the Muslim Ban have happened?This is not to take anything away from the importance and impact of the Women's March, and I am totally +100 on currentresident's point about the biggest success of the March was inspiring so many women to run for office, but when it comes to the Travel Ban protests ... I would remind us that they were exceptional primarily because they emerged so quickly and spontaneously in response to Trump's executive order.
And you know what popular protest movement distinguished itself with a capacity for rapid organization and spontaneous mobilization via social media in response to breaking news events? Black Lives Matter
Which, itself, was borrowing tools employed by Occupy; which had also studied the Arab Spring; which, etc.
Popular protest evolves, the movements study each other and build on each other and inspire the next wave. That they are filled with hope that frequently exceeds their immediate impact is a feature that comes with the exuberance of hope and not a bug that is associated to the impact.
I'm in for 1/20, and I'll see the rest of you there. In all of our streets.
posted by bl1nk at 9:58 PM on December 19, 2017 [5 favorites]
I tend to put "fuck-you march" under solidarity - getting enough people in one place and time to shout "we're here; we're queer; get used to it" that it can't be drowned out or easily arrested for annoying local businesses.
Solidarity stuff is a lot more inwardly focused for me, communities caring for each other and themselves. Think TDoR, rather than a day of rage.
posted by Dysk at 11:48 PM on December 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
Solidarity stuff is a lot more inwardly focused for me, communities caring for each other and themselves. Think TDoR, rather than a day of rage.
posted by Dysk at 11:48 PM on December 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'm going! I also make hats, so I'm taking note of the comments here -- my company is called Lucky Cat and I am a proud liberal WOC -- this would be a really fun tie-in for us!
posted by polly_dactyl at 7:02 AM on December 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by polly_dactyl at 7:02 AM on December 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Philly is a go.
I can say that I personally know at least a hundred women, no exaggeration, for whom last year's marches were the first marches or protests they had attended in their lives; inspired by the experience, they now regularly participate in local events and political organizing.
posted by desuetude at 12:38 PM on December 21, 2017
I can say that I personally know at least a hundred women, no exaggeration, for whom last year's marches were the first marches or protests they had attended in their lives; inspired by the experience, they now regularly participate in local events and political organizing.
posted by desuetude at 12:38 PM on December 21, 2017
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posted by k8t at 5:31 AM on December 19, 2017 [2 favorites]