Women’s March on Idaho, January 21, 2017
It was such an honor to address the 5,000 people who gathered in our city to add their voices to the millions around the world who made it clear, they will not go backwards quietly. Below are my remarks.
I come to you to today with a clenched jaw, voice shaking, and heart pounding. My resolve never greater. My determination never stronger. My desire for truth telling never more amplified.
We are marching and gathering today to demonstrate our determination and resolve to add our voices to the movement across our nation with millions of people, young and old, who come together to create a world that is compassionate, fair, and just: where all of our citizens are embraced and supported in the pursuit of their dreams. Where all of us can thrive and be who we are!
We march today to send a message once again, that we will welcome and embrace the world’s citizens who have become refugees, escaping horrific circumstances and violence to find some bit of safety and peace. There are too many walls between us, and we must tear them down…….not brick by brick, but with a wrecking ball!
We march today to honor the tribal people whose sacred land upon which we stand was taken from them long ago. And that it was the policy of this government to brutally exterminate tribal people and push them off the land to which they were so deeply connected. We are resolved to learn the truth and honor their history and protect our earth.
We march today to dispel the myths of scarcity, that pit people against each other unwittingly in the name of free enterprise and opportunity. With thoughtful and respectful stewardship of our earth, economy and resources, we can sustain all of god’s creatures. There is enough for everyone and we must share.
We march today, to celebrate the years of hard work and compassionate service provided by Planned Parenthood’s staff and leaders. We are determined to protect reproductive rights and access to quality healthcare for millions of people in our country. The threats and attacks on our bodies must stop. We will not be moved on that point. We will not be charged with murder for exercising our legal rights!
We march today because Black Lives Matter. We must be truthful about the history of racism and policies that supported violence against our own citizens in this country if we are going to create a just & fair world.
We march today to celebrate the American with Disabilities Act that protects the rights of people with disabilities in our community. There are many attorneys and advocates in our state who have worked for years to fight for rights and services so all of our citizens are included in our workforce, our government and our schools. We thank you and stand with you today!
We march today to once again send a message that we must Add the Words sexual orientation and gender identity to our Human Rights Act. The beauty and breadth of our humanity cannot be contained and our rights should not be limited by arbitrary and narrow categories.
We march today to support all the survivors of sexual violence and harassment who had to listen to a presidential candidate rationalize sexual assault and then listen to an electorate justify his comments and actions. We will confront sexist, racist, homophobic and transphobic comments and actions and create spaces through just policy where everyone is safe and can thrive.
We are more than just data on a web page to be erased by our government one by one. We are loving, strong, intelligent and free citizens with families and hopes and dreams and collective power. Try as you might, you will not succeed. At each and every point, we will fight back and push forward, advancing our dreams for a fair and just world.
As Dr. King once said, the moral arc of the universe is long, but it bends towards justice. With all our weight and all our strength we must bend that arc and remain vigilant to protect the rights that we and those before us have worked so hard to manifest.
So with our hearts pounding and our voice shaking from the courage to speak the truth, remember that today is a demonstration. Tomorrow calls for action.