Exactly
six months ago today millions of women—and more than a few supportive men this geezer included—marched on Washington and in cities,
towns, and villages across the United States and around the world. It was
the day after the inauguration of the
Cheeto-in-Charge and a bleak moment in
American history. But those marches kicked off an enormous
Resistance Movement that has not yet
flagged or peaked. It was followed closely by almost equally mammoth marches in support of immigrants and refugees, the
LBGT community, science, and affordable
health care. In addition, countless local actions on dozens of issues
have kept the pressure on the fascist ambitions
of an illegitimate President and
a lunatic right wing Congress.
It
has been a rough road. But thanks to swelling popular pressure and resistance,
as well as an endangered firewall for
Constitutional protections by the courts, many of the worst depredations of the rampaging Right have been turned aside. Just this week united and powerful opposition to Trump Care and the sweeping Republican assault on health
care for Millions of Americans seems
to have been stopped in its tracks.
But
more needs to be done. Much more. Our rights
and even our Constitutional
democracy remain under relentless siege. The Resistance has accomplished much, but we
have not yet won.
 |
| The Women's March on Washington on January 21 and its many sister marches represented the largest and broadest mobilization of progressive forces in American history. The work continues. |
In that spirit many of those January march veterans from actions in
Washington, Chicago, Rockford, and around the country are rallying tomorrow on Woodstock Square to make clear that our voices will be heard.
The
participants of the Women’s March on Washington will be hosting a rally on July 22, 2017 beginning at 2:30 p.m. at the Gazebo in the Historic
Woodstock Square followed by a short
march to The Dick Tracy Way Park (Children’s
Peace Park) on Lake Avenue in Woodstock, Illinois. At the conclusion
of this family friendly event there will be an Ice Cream Social.
Here
is what the organizers have to say
about this important event:
We marched in DC to be heard...We marched in Chicago, Rockford, and Elgin to be heard...In May we
marched in Springfield to be
heard...And now we march as one voice in
McHenry County.
Speakers are planned, and there will
be opportunities to commit to further
specific actions. Bring your signs, your energy, and your point of
view.
The rally will focus a local perspective on key women’s issues and energize marchers, especially women, to
become more engaged in the election
process. Only by ensuring that
qualified, committed women are on the ballot and win elective office can we be
sure that the voices of women will be heard and acted upon.
Organizers
and endorsers include but are not limited to McHenry County Progressives, Indivisible,
the McHenry County Democratic Party,
and the Tree of Life Unitarian
Universalist Congregation Social Justice Team.
 |
| The Tree of Life Social Justice contingent at the Chicago Women's March. |
Just
as in the marches six months ago this event should bridge sometimes contentious divisions, build solidarity, and meaningful
Resistance. Progressives, social democrats, Pants Suit Nation Hillary fans;
Democrats, independents, and even disgusted
Republicans. old school and millennial
feminists; Gays, straights, and Transgendered;
immigrants and those who love them; the
oppressed and excluded of all races and
ethnicities; workers and the unemployed;
the children, elderly, sick, and all of those who deserve first class health
care; defenders of the earth and champions
of science; women, men—You!
More
unites us than divides us. And there is much to do in a nation at
crisis.
